Recent advances in MOF-phosphate interaction-based bioanalysis: from enrichment to sensing

Molecular recognition serves as the foundation of bioanalytical strategies. Typical recognition mechanisms include antigen-antibody binding, biotin-streptavidin interaction, aptamer-target pairing, lectin-saccharide recognition, and the chelation of metal ions with phosphate groups, among others. Among these, the chelation of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with phosphate groups has emerged as a particularly concise and efficient molecular recognition strategy. In recent years, MOF-phosphate interactions have been extensively exploited in diverse bioanalytical platforms, highlighting their remarkable potential for practical applications. In this review, we summarize MOF-phosphate-based bioanalytical strategies, with a focus on their use in the enrichment of phospholipids and phosphopeptides, kinase activity assays, and the detection of various phosphate-containing analytes. Furthermore, we discuss the development of multifunctional MOF composites enabled by this interaction and conclude with perspectives on the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.