Metal-organic framework-based adsorbents for blood purification: progress, challenges, and prospects

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Medical Engineering

Background:

• Blood purification methods like hemodialysis (HD), plasma exchange (PE), and hemoperfusion (HP) are crucial for organ failure patients.
• Hemoperfusion (HP) utilizes porous adsorbents to remove metabolic wastes and toxins, enhancing purification efficiency.
• Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) offer high porosity, large surface area, and tunable properties, making them promising for HP applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the characteristics, mechanisms, and structure-function relationships of MOFs for toxin adsorption in blood purification.
• To assess the stability, safety, and hemocompatibility of MOFs as adsorbents.
• To summarize the current progress of MOF composites in HD, HP, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on MOFs in blood purification, focusing on porosity, topology, ligand functionalization, and metal centers.
• Analysis of MOF properties relevant to toxin adsorption and blood compatibility.
• Summary of existing MOF composite applications in various blood purification techniques.

Main Results:

• MOFs possess advantageous properties like high porosity and tunable structures for efficient toxin adsorption.
• The review details MOF characteristics, potential mechanisms, and structure-activity relationships for blood purification.
• Current MOF composites show practical potential in HD, HP, and ECMO applications.

Conclusions:

• MOFs are emerging as highly promising materials for blood purification due to their unique properties.
• Further research into MOF design, safety, and hemocompatibility is essential for clinical translation.
• This review aims to stimulate further research and development in MOFs for blood purification applications.