Antibacterial Metal-Organic Frameworks

Abstract

AbstractThe continuous evolution of complex resistance mechanisms in pathogens is intimidating the efficacy of current antibiotic therapy in medical and health care systems. Thus, the continuous emergence of drug-resistant bacteria has turned out to be a global concern. For the most effective measure against drug-resistant bacteria, the development of bioactive agents having fewer side effects is of utmost necessity. In this connection, porous coordination polymers, popularly known as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), are well thought-out to be the next-generation antibacterial bioactive agents and drug delivery materials. Recently, the possibilities of MOF nanoparticles (NPs) and MOF nanocomposites (NCs) as alternative treatment methods to combat drug-resistant microbes have gained momentum. Compared to the commonly used antibacterial materials (metal salts, metal oxides, metal nanoparticles, and organic pharmaceutical compounds), MOFs are blessed with exceptional properties such as high specific surface area, structural flexibility, tunable pore size, and high drug loading capacity with sustained release capabilities of bioactive substances. Hence, MOFs can directly be employed as antibacterial agents or they can possibly be used as potential carriers of antibacterial agents such as metal/metal oxide NPs, antibiotics, therapeutic agents, and phytochemicals. The existence of easily hydrolysable multiple coordination bonds in MOFs established them as suitable materials for the sustained release of metal cations, bioactive ligands, and encapsulated antibacterial compounds at the site of action, which is a prerequisite for the treatment of many intercellular bacterial infections. Moreover, post-synthetic modification and surface modification techniques can also be employed to make MOFs and their nanocomposites more bioactive and less toxic to human cells.This book chapter provides a comprehensive description and significant developments in the bactericidal applications of different bioactive MOFs and their nanocomposites. Herein, we mainly focus on the antibacterial efficacy of silver- (Ag+), zinc- (Zn2+), and copper (Cu2+)-based MOFs. The effective drug encapsulation and delivery and surface modifications of MOFs to attain better bactericidal and therapeutic action have been discussed with suitable examples. Towards the end of this chapter, a section is included to comprehend the mode of antibacterial action of MOFs and their nanocomposites. We believe that this chapter not only will fill the gap in current knowledge on MOFs but also will help the readers to understand how the MOFs could possibly be applied as potential next-generation antibacterial materials.KeywordsAntibacterialAntibioticBactericidalBioactiveBiocompatibleBiomaterialsCytotoxicCarboxylic acidCoordinationCompositeDrugFrameworksLigandMicrobesMechanismMetal oxideNitric oxideNanoscaleNanoparticlePorousPolymersPathogensPore volumeSurface areaTherapy