Metal-organic frameworks for biomedical applications

Abstract

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have received significant interest in the recent years as promising candidates for biomedical applications due to their high porosities and tunable surface characteristics. The rational design and synthesis of MOFs provide unique physical and chemical structures that make them potential materials for drug storage and drug delivery; biologically important gas storage such as nitric oxide, hydrogen sulfide, and oxygen; imaging; and sensing. The aim of this chapter is to outline the recent progress in biomedical applications of MOFs, mainly focusing on drug storage and drug delivery applications. First, MOFs were briefly introduced and then both experimental and computational studies with emphasis on their potential applications in drug storage, biomedical gas storage, and drug delivery were reviewed. Critical issues such as toxicity, size, shape, and biological stability were also discussed. Finally, current opportunities and challenges of using MOFs in biomedicine were addressed and some future trends were suggested.