Towards applications of bioentities@MOFs in biomedicine

Abstract

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) combined with biomacromolecules, viruses and cells have emerged asnovel biocomposites for application to drug delivery, biosensing, biospecimen preservation, and cell andvirus manipulation. The integration of biological entities into MOF matrices generates MOF biocompos-ites with functional characteristics that cannot be observed in the separate components, such asenhanced chemical and thermal stability, resistance to proteases, MOF-conferred selectivity, and con-trolled release. In this review, we will discuss these functional properties and applications of the biocom-posites obtained by the encapsulation of (i) proteins, (ii) carbohydrates, (iii) nucleic acids, and (iv) virusesor cells in a MOF matrix. Finally, we review the post functionalization of MOF-based drug carriers withlipids as a potential route to enhance the dispersion, stability in biological fluids, and blood circulationtime of MOF-based drug delivery systems.