Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Comment
  • Published:

Clinical translation of metal–organic frameworks

This Comment discusses metal–organic frameworks and their progress towards translation in a health-care setting. We explore their prospects in clinical applications, why translation seems slow, and what opportunities and obstacles await as they move towards the clinic.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Relevant articles

Open Access articles citing this article.

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Fig. 1: A rough timeline of important advancements in MOFs and their emerging applications in drug delivery and diagnosis.

References

  1. Hao, F., Yan, Z.-Y. & Yan, X.-P. Recent advances in research on the effect of physicochemical properties on the cytotoxicity of metal–organic frameworks. Small Sci. 2, 2200044 (2022).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Moosavi, S. M. et al. Understanding the diversity of the metal-organic framework ecosystem. Nat. Commun. 11, 4068 (2020).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Ettlinger, R. et al. Toxicity of metal–organic framework nanoparticles: from essential analyses to potential applications. Chem. Soc. Rev. 51, 464–484 (2022).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Ehrman, R. N. et al. A scalable synthesis of adjuvanting antigen depots based on metal-organic frameworks. Preprint at https://doi.org/10.26434/chemrxiv-2023-gtl30 (2023).

  5. Chen, X. et al. Formulation of metal–organic framework-based drug carriers by controlled coordination of methoxy PEG phosphate: boosting colloidal stability and redispersibility. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 143, 13557–13572 (2021).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Lu, K. et al. Low-dose X-ray radiotherapy–radiodynamic therapy via nanoscale metal–organic frameworks enhances checkpoint blockade immunotherapy. Nat. Biomed. Eng. 2, 600–610 (2018).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Akhavan-Sigari, R. et al. Porous Cu-MOF nanostructures with anticancer properties prepared by a controllable ultrasound-assisted reverse micelle synthesis of Cu-MOF. BMC Chem. 16, 10 (2022).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Garren, M. et al. Surface-catalyzed nitric oxide release via a metal organic framework enhances antibacterial surface effects. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 13, 56931–56943 (2021).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Wijesundara, Y. H. et al. Carrier gas triggered controlled biolistic delivery of DNA and protein therapeutics from metal–organic frameworks. Chem. Sci. 13, 13803–13814 (2022).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Kumari, S. et al. In vivo biocompatibility of ZIF-8 for slow release via intranasal administration. Chem. Sci. https://doi.org/10.1039/D3SC00500C (2023).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Jeremiah J. Gassensmith or Amirali Popat.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Supplementary information

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Tyagi, N., Wijesundara, Y.H., Gassensmith, J.J. et al. Clinical translation of metal–organic frameworks. Nat Rev Mater 8, 701–703 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-023-00608-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-023-00608-3

This article is cited by

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing: Translational Research

Sign up for the Nature Briefing: Translational Research newsletter — top stories in biotechnology, drug discovery and pharma.

Get what matters in translational research, free to your inbox weekly. Sign up for Nature Briefing: Translational Research