Nanoscale Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework (ZIF)–8 in Cancer Theranostics: Current Challenges and Prospects
by
, and
Hongxin Xie
1,2, 
Xinyu Liu
2,
Zhengrong Huang
1,2,
Liexi Xu
2,
Rui Bai
2,
Fajian He
2,
Mengqin Wang
1,2,
Linzhi Han
2,
Zhirong Bao
1,
Yuzhou Wu
3
,
Conghua Xie
2,4,* and
Yan Gong
1,5,* 1
Department of Biological Repositories, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
2
Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
3
Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry and Materia Medica, Hubei Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Medical Protective Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
4
Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
5
Tumor Precision Diagnosis and Treatment Technology and Translational Medicine, Hubei Engineering Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Cancers 2022, 14(16), 3935; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14163935
Submission received: 9 July 2022
/
Revised: 4 August 2022
/
Accepted: 12 August 2022
/
Published: 15 August 2022
(This article belongs to the Collection Cancer Nanomedicine)
Simple Summary
The biomedical application of metal–organic frameworks in cancer theranostics has become a research hotspot with rapid progress. As a typical representative, ZIF–8 attracts increasing interest from researchers due to its good performance and potential. In this review, we updated recent discoveries on the ZIF–8–based nanoplatforms for cancer, discussed the problems in current research and the obstacles for clinical translation of ZIF–8, and also proposed an outlook on its future development.
Abstract
Cancer severely threatens human health and has remained the leading cause of disease–related death for decades. With the rapid advancement of nanomedicine, nanoscale metal–organic frameworks are believed to be potentially applied in the treatment and biomedical imaging for various tumors. Zeolite imidazole framework (ZIF)–8 attracts increasing attention due to its high porosity, large specific surface area, and pH–responsiveness. The designs and modifications of ZIF–8 nanoparticles, as well as the strategy of drug loading, demand a multifaceted and comprehensive understanding of nanomaterial features and tumor characteristics. We searched for studies on ZIF–8–based nanoplatforms in tumor theranostics on Web of Science from 2015 to 2022, mainly focused on the research published in the past 3 years, summarized the progress of their applications in tumor imaging and treatment, and discussed the favorable aspects of ZIF–8 nanoparticles for tumor theranostics as well as the future opportunities and potential challenges. As a kind of metal–organic framework material full of potential, ZIF–8 can be expected to be combined with more therapeutic systems in the future and continue to contribute to all aspects of tumor therapy and diagnosis.
