Metal‐Organic Framework Nanoparticles in Photodynamic Therapy: Current Status and Perspectives

TLDR

This feature article reviews recent applications of metal‑organic framework nanoparticles in cancer photodynamic therapy, discussing the underlying photophysics, photochemistry, and the evolving relationship between photosensitizer properties and therapeutic requirements. The article aims to provide an overview of MOF and PDT research fields and highlight the potential synergistic effects of combining them. The authors synthesize recent advances in MOF design and PDT photophysics to illustrate how MOF nanoparticles can serve as photosensitizer platforms. The review identifies that nanotechnology platforms enable fourth‑generation photosensitizers, such as PS‑based MOF nanoparticles, which maintain monomeric PSs to avoid self‑quenching, thereby improving PDT efficiency, and it projects MOF nanoparticles as highly promising future agents in photodynamic therapy.

Abstract

This feature article covers the recent applications of metal‐organic framework nanoparticles (MOF NPs) in photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer. It aims at giving the reader an overview about these two current research fields, i.e., MOF and PDT, and at highlighting the potential synergistic effect that could result from their association. After describing the general photophysics and photochemistry that underlie PDT, the relationship between photosensitizer (PS) properties and PDT requirements is discussed throughout the PSs historical development. This development reveals the advantages of using nanotechnology platforms for the creation of the ideal PS and leads us to define the fourth generation of PSs, which includes NPs built from the PS itself as porphysomes or PS‐based MOF NPs. Especially, the precise spatial control over the PS assembly into well‐defined MOF NPs, which keeps the PS in its monomeric form and prevents PS self‐quenching, appears as a notable feature to solve PS solubility and aggregation issues and therefore improves the PDT efficiency. Finally, we discuss the future perspectives of MOF NPs in PDT and shed light on how promising these nanomaterials are.