MIL-n Series of Metal-Organic Frameworks for Cancer Sensing, Imaging, and Theranostics

Cancer is a significant global health challenge with a high mortality rate. Developing efficient methods for diagnosing cancer in its early stages helps improve the chances of successful treatment. Moreover, integrating therapeutic methods with diagnostic and imaging techniques offers a promising strategy for achieving more precise treatment outcomes. The MIL-n series of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), with several desirable properties, such as large surface area, appropriate stability, high porosity, and biocompatibility, are promising candidates for the preparation of applicable platforms for cancer diagnosis and efficient treatment. In this review, we will introduce the structural features of the well-known and widely used MILs in cancer research. Next, some reported sensors based on MILs will be described. Then, the application of MILs in combining cancer imaging and therapy will be summarized. Finally, we discuss challenges and future directions in the application of MILs for cancer diagnosis and theranostics. Through this review, we aim to highlight the potential of MILs in cancer research.