Electrospun metal-organic frameworks-loaded nanofibrous carriers for drug delivery systems

Nanotechnology-based-drug-delivery processes are widely applicable for specific drug release. Various pharmaceutical carriers, such as polymeric nano-carriers (solid lipid nanoparticles, micelles, nano-gels/hydrogels, dendrimers, polymeric nano-shapes), vesicular carriers (liposome, noisome), inorganic carriers (Au nano-particles, mesoporous silica, carbon nanotubes, calcium phosphate, magnetic nanocomposites, layered double hydroxide), and organic/inorganic carriers (metal-organic frameworks/MOFs, magnetic liposomes), have been formulated for the delivery of small/large drug molecules. In this review, the mechanisms of action of the designed MOFs/drug formulations against cancer therapy have been discussed. Due to the challenges of MOFs cages for the delivery of drug molecules, such as easy aggregation, low dispersion, low solubility, low stability, and cytotoxicity, the bi-compounds formulations of MOFs/nanofibers (NFs) have been studied for biomedical applications. The synthesis approaches of the MOFs/NFs formulations, and their application in antibacterial activity, tissue engineering, and cancer therapy have been reviewed. Finally, the challenges and future opportunities of the MOFs/NFs carriers in human health have been addressed.