MRI-Active Metal-Organic Frameworks: Concepts for the Translation from Lab to Clinic

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are an emerging class of synthetic materials obtained by combining organic and inorganic chemistry. MOFs show peculiar properties such as well-defined crystalline structures, systematic structural variation, high porosity and the possibility to chemically functionalize the pores. These properties are especially promising for designing MOF nanoparticles (NPs) with special functions. The desired functions can be introduced and modified with a chemical approach, by the choice of the inorganic and organic building blocks. All these features and the highest surface area of any porous material make MOF NPs ideal for the use as nanocarrier in biomedicine. So far, a wide variety of biomedical applications of MOF NPs have been already envisioned being supported by promising first in vitro and in vivo results. The ongoing development of MOF NPs is at the edge of basic science to biomedical applications. A major focus of biomedical research is already in cancer therapy using MOF NPs as theranostic nanocarrier. In this article, NP designs and MRI-labelling concepts are pointed out and discussed in the perspective of facilitating their translation to clinical use. Clinical application is envisioned with a major focus on theranostic MOF NPs and MRI as the most promising imaging method.