Metal-organic and covalent organic frameworks for precision drug delivery: a precision-by-design evidence framework for biologically accountable nanomedicine.
- 1Organ Transplantation Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
- 2University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
Abstract
Introduction
Metal-organic frameworks and covalent organic frameworks offer a rare opportunity to design drug carriers from molecular building blocks upward. Yet high loading capacity and stimulus-responsive release alone do not constitute precision delivery.Methods
We critically synthesized evidence on MOF and COF pore-level cargo interactions, framework and surface engineering, endogenous and externally triggered release, active targeting, biomimetic coatings, nanozyme activity and theranostic integration. Precision delivery was decomposed into five evidence-qualified dimensions: material, spatial, temporal, mechanistic and translational precision.Results
The evidence supports the complementary strengths of the two families across small-molecule, protein, nucleic-acid, gas and catalytic therapies. Direct evidence is strongest for individual component technologies, selected antibody-targeted systems and two-component hybrids. Recurrent evidence gaps include incomplete particle characterization in biological media, reliance on total-tissue accumulation rather than cell-specific delivery, and insufficient separation of carrier degradation from drug release.Discussion
A framework becomes precise only when it maintains a defined material identity, reaches a biologically justified compartment, releases an active payload at the intended place and time, and does so with measurable improvements in exposure, efficacy and safety. This requires a precision-by-design framework that maps claims to minimum evidence and links material critical quality attributes to biological mechanisms, translational assays and development decisions.
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BibTeX
@article{li2026metalorganic,
title = {{Metal-organic and covalent organic frameworks for precision drug delivery: a precision-by-design evidence framework for biologically accountable nanomedicine.}},
author = {Xinwei Li and Haonan Zhang and Ruidong Ding and Feng Wang},
journal = {Frontiers in drug delivery},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fddev.2026.1970554},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42948009},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Metal-organic and covalent organic frameworks for precision drug delivery: a precision-by-design evidence framework for biologically accountable nanomedicine.
AU - Xinwei Li
AU - Haonan Zhang
AU - Ruidong Ding
AU - Feng Wang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/13
JO - Frontiers in drug delivery
DO - 10.3389/fddev.2026.1970554
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42948009
AB - Introduction Metal-organic frameworks and covalent organic frameworks offer a rare opportunity to design drug carriers from molecular building blocks upward. Yet high loading capacity and stimulus-responsive release alone do not constitute precision delivery.Methods We critically synthesized evidence on MOF and COF pore-level cargo interactions, framework and surface engineering, endogenous and externally triggered release, active targeting, biomimetic coatings, nanozyme activity and theranostic integration. Precision delivery was decomposed into five evidence-qualified dimensions: material, spatial, temporal, mechanistic and translational precision.Results The evidence supports the complementary strengths of the two families across small-molecule, protein, nucleic-acid, gas and catalytic therapies. Direct evidence is strongest for individual component technologies, selected antibody-targeted systems and two-component hybrids. Recurrent evidence gaps include incomplete particle characterization in biological media, reliance on total-tissue accumulation rather than cell-specific delivery, and insufficient separation of carrier degradation from drug release.Discussion A framework becomes precise only when it maintains a defined material identity, reaches a biologically justified compartment, releases an active payload at the intended place and time, and does so with measurable improvements in exposure, efficacy and safety. This requires a precision-by-design framework that maps claims to minimum evidence and links material critical quality attributes to biological mechanisms, translational assays and development decisions.
SN - 2674-0850
ER -