Biomedical Applications of Metal Organic Frameworks

We have witnessed a rapid growth in the field of a new nanoporous material group, metal organic frameworks (MOFs), over the past decade. MOFs possess a wide array of potential applications in chemical engineering, chemistry, and materials science, including gas storage, gas separation, and catalysis. One of the areas MOFs started to appear recently is biomedical applications. The unique physical and chemical characteristics of MOFs make them promising candidates for drug storage and drug delivery, nitric oxide storage and delivery, imaging, and sensing. In this review, we outline the recent progress of using MOFs as a promising platform in biomedical applications due to their high drug loading capacity, biodegradability, and versatile functionality. We also demonstrate the potential of MOFs for continuous development and implementation in biomedical applications by discussing issues including stability, toxicology, and biocompatibility. Although significant progress has been made in utilizing MOFs for biomedical applications, further improvements must still occur before MOFs can become viable therapeutics options.