Nanostructured metal–organic frameworks and their bio-related applications

• MOFs have emerged as promising candidates for biomedical applications.
• Relevant bioapplications deal with drug release, imaging, biocatalysis or sensing.
• Nanometric MOFs are more suitable for the different administration routes.
• MOF miniaturization governs their in vivo fate and toxicity and/or activity.
• Specific synthetic and shaping methods are required for a bioapplications.

Miniaturization of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) results of great interest in order to integrate these materials in strategic applications such as sensing or drug delivery. This emerging class of nanoscaled MOFs (nanoMOFs), combining the intrinsic properties of the porous materials and the benefits of nanostructures, are expected to improve in some cases the performances of classical bulk crystalline MOFs. In the field of biomedicine, the benefits of MOF miniaturization have already been proved to be effective, not only because establishes a strong influence over the choice of the administration route but also governs their in vivo fate and therefore, their toxicity and/or activity.The scope of this review focuses on the preparation of nanostructured MOFs and their related biomedical applications. We will cover all aspects concerning the various synthetic methods reported so far, as well as the shaping and surface engineering routes required for their use in biomedicine.