Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for phototherapy and synergistic phototherapy of cancer

Phototherapy is a form of light-mediated therapy, which includes photodynamic therapy (PDT) photothermal therapy (PTT), and the recently emerging photoimmunotherapy (PIT). PTT, PDT, PIT and their combinations with conventional chemotherapeutics have been used extensively to treat cancer due to their outstanding therapeutic efficacy, are non-invasive, mitigate side effects, and display spatial selectivity for a target organ. In addition to the many anticancer phototherapeutic agents developed, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a new generation of promising light-responsive materials owing to their readily tunable chemical structures through simple coordination chemistry as well as their morphological diversity. When properly designed, MOFs can also serve as photodynamic and/or photothermal agents themselves whilst being a carrier to deliver chemo- and macromolecular therapeutic agents owing to their highly tunable porosity. This review highlights recent research progresses made in the development of MOFs-based materials for phototherapy and synergistic phototherapy, as well as discussing any remaining challenges.