Metal Organic Frameworks: Synthesis, Characterization and Drug Delivery Applications

Since the last few years, metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have been attracting attention from scientific sororities. MOFs are novel porous materials with robust architectures that demonstrate a multitude of applications in theranostics. Interestingly, it shows adaptable porosity, versatile chemical configuration, tunable size and shape, tailorable surface functionalization, etc. MOFs have a very porous network space that makes it possible to efficiently pack drug payloads and different imaging markers. Nano-MOFs (NMOFs) are additionally biodegradable in nature due to the metalligand linkages and their greater labile-ness. The present review article provides insights into the fabrication of MOFs, especially different synthesis methodologies, along with merits and limitations. A thorough description of several characterization techniques of MOFs and underlying principles have also been depicted. Moreover, the role of MOFs as a promising nanocarrier for small molecules/ active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and biomolecule delivery has been deliberated along with their theranostic potential. In a nutshell, this review offers the most recent advancements in NMOFs for use in drug delivery applications. In line with this, MOF stands out as a versatile carriers compared to other nanomaterials due to the multitude of uses it has in drug delivery and theragnostic, emanating high hopes for its future clinical application.