Metal-organic frameworks: mechanisms of antibacterial action and potential applications

Drug Discov Today. 2016 Jun;21(6):1009-18. doi: 10.1016/j.drudis.2016.04.009. Epub 2016 Apr 16.

Abstract

The growing resistance of pathogens to conventional antibiotics has become a public health problem and raises the need to seek new effective solutions. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are porous, hybrid materials comprising metal ions linked by organic binding ligands. The possibility of using a variety of chemical building components in MOFs enables the formation of structures with desired properties. They can act as a reservoir of metal ions, providing their gradual release and resulting in a sustained antibacterial action analogous to that proposed for metal/metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) but different to that of antibiotics. These features make MOFs promising candidates for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications, as illustrated by examples discussed in this review.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Drug Carriers / administration & dosage*
  • Drug Carriers / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Metal-Organic Frameworks / administration & dosage*
  • Metal-Organic Frameworks / pharmacology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Drug Carriers
  • Metal-Organic Frameworks