Porphyrin-based metal-organic frameworks for cancer theranostics

Theranostics, integrating diagnostic and therapeutic functionalities, have emerged as advanced systems for timely cancer diagnosis and effective treatment. The development of versatile materials suitable for cancer theranostics is intensifying. Porphyrin-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) leverage the structural diversity and designability inherent in MOFs, alongside the robust photophysical, catalytic, and biological properties of porphyrins. These materials enhance the solubility and stability of porphyrins and facilitate their stable functionalized assemblies, conferring the potential for multimodal imaging diagnostics and precision therapeutics. In this review, we summarized the potential of porphyrin-based MOFs as cancer theranostics platforms, focusing on recent advancements in porphyrin-based MOFs, and highlighting their functionalized strategies and developments in diagnostic imaging and synergistic therapies. Finally, we proposed the challenges and prospects of these emerging materials in cancer theranostics.