Polymer-metal-organic framework hybrids for bioimaging and cancer therapy

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) exhibited intrinsic porosity and tunable compositions, which were routinely used for biomedical applications as contrast agents or drug delivery. After modification with biocompatible polymers, the rationally designed hybrids with sophisticated nanostructures integrated the merits from both soft polymers and crystalline MOFs, thus exhibiting unprecedented performance compared to individual ingredients. For biological research, the polymer-MOF hybrids have shown their superiority in bioavailability and pharmacokinetics as well as improved colloidal stability. In this review, typical synthetic procedures to obtain the polymer-MOF hybrids have been summarized. Moreover, recent progress of the polymer-MOF hybrid nanomaterials applied in bioimaging and cancer therapy areas was overviewed with an emphasis on their peculiar features. Especially, strategic hybridization of polymers and MOFs and collaborative combination strategies for enhancing therapeutic performances are highlighted. Finally, perspectives on future trends of polymer-MOF hybrid nanomaterials are presented. Detailed perspectives and suggestions are also proposed to broaden the scope of theranostic functionalities, attempting to bring polymer-MOF hybrid nanomaterials closer to clinical applications.