Recent advances in coordination chemistry-driven metal-organic frameworks for cancer drug delivery and therapeutics

Abstract

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are crystalline materials with porous structures exhibiting unique coordination chemistry. They have been garnering extensive attention for industrial, environmental, and biomedical applications. The use of MOFs as a potent drug delivery solution has overcome the limitations of conventional cancer therapy. Unlike conventional nanocarriers, MOFs provide precise control over organic linkers, metal nodes, pore environment, etc. The rational design of these smart drug delivery platforms can make them responsive to internal and external stimuli. The exceptional coordination chemistry enables high drug loading, simultaneous delivery of imaging and therapeutic substances, their protection, and controlled release. However, certain challenges still exist, but with the progressing research, MOFs have immense potential in revolutionizing cancer therapeutics. This review article comprehensively discusses the coordination chemistry aspects of MOFs, including their synthesis, drug loading, and release kinetics. This article also provides a detailed and comparative outlook of the application of MOFs in cancer therapy, along with translational and regulatory aspects, and the emerging role of AI. Altogether, this review aims to provide comprehensive insights and a roadmap for future research of next-generation and state-of-the-art MOF-based cancer drug delivery systems.