Integrated diagnosis and treatment: metal–organic frameworks as an innovative platform for neurodegenerative diseases

Abstract

Neurodegenerative diseases pose a major threat to human health and have become a global public health concern, creating an urgent need for new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are crystalline porous materials with key physicochemical properties, including adjustable pore size, chiral coordination structures, surface charge, and optical and magnetic properties. In recent years, they have attracted considerable research interest in the context of neurodegenerative diseases due to their potential to influence diagnostic and therapeutic functions. This review provides a comprehensive evaluation of recent progress in the identification of critical biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases using MOF-based electrochemical and fluorescent sensors. It focuses on the application of MOFs as drug delivery systems, enzyme immobilisation platforms, and nanomedicines in therapeutic interventions and drug development. The review also discusses the challenges and future prospects of using MOFs to construct integrated diagnostic and therapeutic platforms and to advance clinical translation.