Recent advancements in metal organic framework-modified multifunctional materials for photodynamic therapy

Abstract

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are porous hybrid structures possessing great potential for application in therapeutic platforms, particularly phototherapy, owing to the vast number of functional moieties that can be employed in numerous synthetic procedures to achieve target-oriented structures. Presently, phototherapy is the most viable and emerging technology with daily advancements in photothermal (PT) agents to eradicate malignant diseases such as cancer. Over the last decade, nanoscale MOFs have vigorously bloomed as photodynamic (PD) agents owing to their porosity, biocompatibility, and photosensitizing ability and as nanocarriers. Besides, MOFs also exhibit synergistic effects of combined and image-guided therapies efficiently under both in vitro and in vivo conditions. In this review, we focus on the recent advancements in MOF-modified multifunctional agents for photodynamic therapy (PDT) and emphasize the light-triggering mechanism of PDT and its role in the destruction of targeted pathogens. Subsequently, we summarize various types of MOF-based photosensitizers in their parent and modified forms and their effect in enhancing therapeutic applications. Finally, we present the current challenges and future advancements in the application of MOFs in the wide arena of PDT.