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.