Bioengineering of Metal-organic Frameworks for Nanomedicine

Abstract

Controlled structure, tunable porosity, and readily chemical functionalizability make metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) a powerful biomedical tool. Nanoscale MOF particles have been increasingly studied as drug carriers, bioimaging agents, and therapeutic agents due to their excellent physiochemical properties. In this review, we start with MOF as a nanocarrier for drug delivery, covering therapeutic MOF agents followed by a comprehensive discussion of surface bioengineering of MOF for improved biostability, biocompatibility, and targeted delivery. Finally, we detail the challenges and prospects of the future of MOF research for biomedical applications.

Keywords: Metal-organic frameworks; drug delivery; photodynamic therapy; surface engineering.

Figure 1

Porous iron carboxylate MOFs for dry delivery. Reprinted with permission from ref. . Copyright (2010) Nature Publishing Group.

Figure 2

Free insulin loading to MOF NU-1000 and releasing in the presence of phosphate buffer saline. Pepsin which can digest insulin cannot access to the insulin that was stored in the porous MOF NU-1000 because of the large size of pepsin. Reprinted (adapted) with permission from ref. . Copyright (2018) American Chemical Society.

Figure 3

A) Cargo release from the duplex-capped MOF with different stimuli such as the DNase I, the nicking enzyme (Nt.BbvCI), the endonuclease (EcoRI), and the exonuclease (Exo III) as biocatalysts. Reprinted with permission from ref. Copyright (2018) WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim. B) ATP triggered drug release. Reprinted with permission from ref. Copyright (2017) WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Figure 4

Size-controlled synthesis of porphyrinic Zr-MOF (PCN-224) for photodynamic therapy. Reprinted (adapted) with permission from ref. . Copyright (2016) American Chemical Society.

Figure 5

A) Nucleic acid-MOF conjugation through covalent click reaction. Reprinted (adapted) with permission from ref. . Copyright (2014) American Chemical Society. B) Direct phosphate-terminal DNA conjugation to MOF. Reprinted (adapted) with permission from ref. . Copyright (2018), Royal Society of Chemistry.