Cu-based metal-organic frameworks: synthesis, biomedical applications, and beyond

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Copper-based metal-organic frameworks (Cu-MOFs) are versatile porous materials with tunable structures and redox-active copper centers.
• Their biodegradability enhances their potential for therapeutic and technological applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent progress in Cu-MOF synthesis, focusing on controllable coordination chemistry, defect engineering, and surface modification.
• To highlight biomedical advancements, including drug delivery, chemodynamic therapy, phototherapy, and antimicrobial applications.
• To underscore the industrial significance of Cu-MOFs in catalysis, energy storage, and environmental remediation.

Main Methods:

• Overview of synthetic approaches: solvothermal, mechanochemical, and green processes.
• Emphasis on controlling coordination chemistry, defects, and surface engineering for performance.
• Review of biomedical applications and innovations in stimuli-responsive and biomimetic designs.

Main Results:

• Cu-MOFs demonstrate significant potential as drug delivery systems and active therapeutic agents.
• Innovations in design improve stability and targeting under physiological conditions.
• Cu-MOFs show increasing importance in catalysis, energy storage, and environmental remediation.

Conclusions:

• Challenges remain in long-term biosafety, stability in biological environments, and scalable production for clinical translation.
• Future progress depends on predictive design tools, structure-function understanding, and standardized biological assessments.
• Cu-MOFs are at the intersection of materials science and biomedicine, with potential for real-world impact.