Emerging metal-organic framework (MOF)-based biosensors with high potential for point-of-care determination of biomarkers: Mechanisms and applications

Emerging research in real-time and in-situ biosensors has attracted much attention worldwide, especially in response to outbreaks of deadly epidemics and incurable chronic diseases. However, the initiation of research in this field is still challenging for researchers in selecting sensing platforms, probes, sensing strategies and other aspects to realize clinical goals. The selection of these options should be such that in addition to improving the figures of merit of analytical tools such as sensitivity, selectivity, limit of detection (LOD) and dynamic linear range (DLR), clinical requirements such as biocompatibility, stability and the absence of foreign-body response (FBR) in complex matrices are also met. This review article emphasizes the use of metal organic frameworks (MOFs) as electrochemical platforms, fluorescent probes and nanozymes as well as luminophores. As a group of porous crystalline materials, MOFs show high potential for the fabrication of biosensors integrated with the Internet of Things (IoT), logic gates or smartphones that have a significant impact on the modern medical and healthcare systems. To the best of our knowledge, this review article is the first comprehensive study focusing on different types of MOF-based real-time and in-situ biosensors, including optical, electrochemical, dual-mode photoelectrochemical, and electrochemical-luminescence biosensors, as well as specific standards that affect their biological applications. Despite the large number of research studies in this field, the lack of personalized implantable/wearable biosensors, as well as MOF-based neuromorphic biosensors, is evident.