Amorphous metal–organic frameworks: Pioneering frontiers in cancer diagnostics and therapeutics
Jingqi Zhao, Yaowen Zhang, Yankun Luo, Wenzhuo Zheng, X Xu, Feng Luo
Abstract
The relentless advancement of cancer, a leading cause of mortality worldwide, underscores the need for innovative therapeutic strategies. Amorphous metal–organic frameworks (aMOFs) have emerged as a paradigm-shifting solution in the field of cancer diagnostics and therapeutics, distinguishing themselves from their crystalline counterparts through their superior properties and functionalities. This comprehensive review explores the synthesis, unique properties, and multifaceted applications of aMOFs in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Compared with their crystalline counterparts, aMOFs display superior properties, including enhanced catalytic performance, exceptional porosity, and elevated thermal conductivity. These properties underpin their extensive use in sensitive biochemical detection for cancer, precision drug delivery, tumor thermal ablation, and other applications. Their inherent chemical tunability further enables the integration of multifunctional anticancer strategies, ranging from multiple biomedical imaging to phototherapy and metal ion-mediated apoptosis, positioning aMOFs as versatile theranostic nanoplatforms. This article delves into the current oncological challenges and prospects of aMOFs, underscoring their transformative potential in advanced cancer diagnostics, targeted therapy, and the development of next-generation theranostic nanoplatforms. The convergence of computational simulations and interdisciplinary research is anticipated to further accelerate the clinical translation of aMOFs, heralding a new era in personalized cancer medicine.