Metal-Organic Framework (MOFs) for Drug Delivery Applications

Abstract

The idea of Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) materials was first introduced and developed back in 1959, for other applications. The first application of MOFs in drug delivery is carried by Férey and co-workers in 2006. From then on, MOFs are believed to be very efficient drug carriers as they solve the problem for traditional drug delivery methods of, for instance, having low drug loading capacity, unstable structure and composition as well as uncontrolled drug releasing processes. MOF materials generally have extremely high porosity and surface area, some also have flexibility properties. This review outlines some of the most used and studied MOFs for drug delivery applications including the MIL family (MIL-100/101, MIL-125(Ti), MIL-53), HKUST-1, ZIF-8 and UIO-66. Specifically, the structures, drug loading and drug releasing performances of the materials are summarized. The comparisons and outlooks for the future application of MOF materials in drug delivery are also concluded in this review.