Recent Advances in Research on the Effect of Physicochemical Properties on the Cytotoxicity of Metal–Organic Frameworks

Abstract

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been utilized with increasing interest in various fields, including gas storage and separation, catalysis, sensing, adsorption, and biomedicine. Recently, the scale‐up production and commercialization of MOFs have paved their way to real‐world applications. However, the accidental and intentional exposures of MOFs to humans and organisms make an increasing concern on their health risks and sustainable development. Thus, toxicity assessment is essential for the application of MOFs. In vitro toxic evaluation based on cell culture is low cost, fast, and high throughput, making it an ideal model in toxicity research. To understand the cytotoxicity of MOFs, a short review on the effect of key physicochemical factors on cytotoxicity is necessary. Herein, the application of MOFs is summarized and the possible exposure routes of MOFs to humans are discussed. Moreover, the key physicochemical factors affecting the cytotoxicity of MOFs such as chemical composition, size, and shape are also elucidated. It is expected that this short review helps to understand the cytotoxicity of MOFs and sheds light on the importance of the toxicity assessment of MOFs.

Keywords

• cellular toxicity
• exposure routes of MOFs
• metal–organic frameworks
• physical and chemical characteristics of MOFs