Application of MOFs-mediated phototherapy in cancer treatment

Abstract

This article systematically discusses the latest progress of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) in the field of cancer phototherapy. MOFs have overcome the limitations of conventional materials in structural design and functional tunability, offering ultra-high specific surface area, high porosity, and customizable active sites, which render them highly suitable as nanocarriers. In photodynamic therapy (PDT), MOFs can significantly improve the efficiency of ROS generation by loading photosensitizers or directly as photosensitive materials, and enhance tumour specificity by targeted modifications. In the field of photothermal therapy (PTT), MOFs have shown excellent near-infrared light absorption and conversion ability by integrating precious metal nanoparticles or designing novel ligand systems. It is worth noting that MOFs-mediated multimodal treatment strategies are increasingly mature. These innovations provide an important theoretical basis and technical path for the development of high-efficiency and low-toxicity nano-phototherapy systems.