Recent Advances in Metal–Organic Framework-Based Anticancer Hydrogels

Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally and the estimated number of new cancer cases and deaths will be ∼30.2 million and 16.3 million, respectively, by 2040. These numbers cause massive, physical, emotional, and financial burdens to society and the healthcare system that lead to furthe...

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Main Authors: Preeti Kush, Ranjit Singh, Parveen Kumar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Gels
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/1/76
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author Preeti Kush
Ranjit Singh
Parveen Kumar
author_facet Preeti Kush
Ranjit Singh
Parveen Kumar
author_sort Preeti Kush
collection DOAJ
description Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally and the estimated number of new cancer cases and deaths will be ∼30.2 million and 16.3 million, respectively, by 2040. These numbers cause massive, physical, emotional, and financial burdens to society and the healthcare system that lead to further research for a better and more effective therapeutic strategy to manage cancer. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising alternative approaches for efficient drug delivery and cancer theranostics owing to their unique properties and the direct transportation of drugs into cells followed by controlled release, but they suffer from certain limitations like rigidity, poor dispersibility, fragility, aggregation probability, and limited surface accessibility. Therefore, MOFs were conjugated with polymeric hydrogels, leading to the formation of MOF-based hydrogels with abundant absorption sites, flexibility, and excellent mechanical properties. This review briefly describes the different strategies used for the synthesis and characterization of MOF-based hydrogels. Further, we place special emphasis on the recent advances in MOF-based hydrogels used to manage different cancers. Finally, we conclude the challenges and future perspectives of MOF-based hydrogels. We believe that this review will help researchers to develop more MOF-based hydrogels with augmented anticancer effects, enabling the effective management of cancer even without adverse effects.
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spelling doaj-art-30b1c7b7b55847eeb956bb4e663881032025-01-24T13:34:03ZengMDPI AGGels2310-28612025-01-011117610.3390/gels11010076Recent Advances in Metal–Organic Framework-Based Anticancer HydrogelsPreeti Kush0Ranjit Singh1Parveen Kumar2Adarsh Vijendra Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shobhit University Gangoh, Saharanpur 247341, Uttar Pradesh, IndiaAdarsh Vijendra Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shobhit University Gangoh, Saharanpur 247341, Uttar Pradesh, IndiaExigo Recycling Pvt Ltd., Karnal 132114, Haryana, IndiaCancer is the second leading cause of death globally and the estimated number of new cancer cases and deaths will be ∼30.2 million and 16.3 million, respectively, by 2040. These numbers cause massive, physical, emotional, and financial burdens to society and the healthcare system that lead to further research for a better and more effective therapeutic strategy to manage cancer. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising alternative approaches for efficient drug delivery and cancer theranostics owing to their unique properties and the direct transportation of drugs into cells followed by controlled release, but they suffer from certain limitations like rigidity, poor dispersibility, fragility, aggregation probability, and limited surface accessibility. Therefore, MOFs were conjugated with polymeric hydrogels, leading to the formation of MOF-based hydrogels with abundant absorption sites, flexibility, and excellent mechanical properties. This review briefly describes the different strategies used for the synthesis and characterization of MOF-based hydrogels. Further, we place special emphasis on the recent advances in MOF-based hydrogels used to manage different cancers. Finally, we conclude the challenges and future perspectives of MOF-based hydrogels. We believe that this review will help researchers to develop more MOF-based hydrogels with augmented anticancer effects, enabling the effective management of cancer even without adverse effects.https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/1/76metal–organic frameworkhydrogelchemotherapychallenges
spellingShingle Preeti Kush
Ranjit Singh
Parveen Kumar
Recent Advances in Metal–Organic Framework-Based Anticancer Hydrogels
Gels
metal–organic framework
hydrogel
chemotherapy
challenges
title Recent Advances in Metal–Organic Framework-Based Anticancer Hydrogels
title_full Recent Advances in Metal–Organic Framework-Based Anticancer Hydrogels
title_fullStr Recent Advances in Metal–Organic Framework-Based Anticancer Hydrogels
title_full_unstemmed Recent Advances in Metal–Organic Framework-Based Anticancer Hydrogels
title_short Recent Advances in Metal–Organic Framework-Based Anticancer Hydrogels
title_sort recent advances in metal organic framework based anticancer hydrogels
topic metal–organic framework
hydrogel
chemotherapy
challenges
url https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/1/76
work_keys_str_mv AT preetikush recentadvancesinmetalorganicframeworkbasedanticancerhydrogels
AT ranjitsingh recentadvancesinmetalorganicframeworkbasedanticancerhydrogels
AT parveenkumar recentadvancesinmetalorganicframeworkbasedanticancerhydrogels