Current Advances in the Cancer Therapeutic Applications of Metal–Organic Frameworks Associated with Quantum Dots

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript (MS) submitted by Kyoungtae Kim et al. reported Current Advances in the Cancer Therapeutic Applications of Metal Organic Frameworks-associated with Quantum Dots. Here, the author has reviewed QD-MOF hybrid systems, focusing on their functional properties and applications in sensing, drug delivery and cancer therapy. However, the unique insights about the construction of this manuscript need to be emphasized. The manuscript is suitable for publishing after major revision. Please consider the following suggestions while revising the MS.

1.The author reviewed the application of QD-MOF hybrid systems in sensing, and anticancer therapies. What is the motive of the selection of only QD-MOF hybrid systems for the review as other MOF materials are also reported for these therapies? What unique insights or perspectives does it offer compared to existing literature?

2.It is also important to address the effects of properties like drug loading, drug release, and cytotoxicity of QD-MOF hybrid systems with respect to antibacterial, and anticancer treatment. These factors must be included and explained by the author in order to provide readers with a clearer and detailed understanding

3. There are few figures, it should be extended some examples and figures.
4. The logic between each research example is not coherent, making it difficult to see the importance of each example.
5. It is important to add a section after introduction, discussing the synthesis, functionalization of MOFs, properties, and their significance in applications.Such as  Journal of Solid State Chemistry 289 (2020) 121544and CrystEngComm 19 (2017)5244

 

Author Response

Dear Editor, 

Enclosed is the revised version of previously submitted manuscript “Current Advances in the Cancer Therapeutic Applications of Metal Organic Frameworks-associated with Quantum Dots”. The corresponding author (PI) would like to thank the reviewers for their thoughtful, helpful, and constructive critiques. It is our goal to make the manuscript as strong as possible, and we feel the review process has significantly improved our manuscript. The following are our responses to the critiques. Direct quotations from the reviewers are in bold. Direct responses to the reviewers in the body of this letter are given in italic. 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript by Chand and Kim, titled "Current Advances in the Cancer Therapeutic Applications of Metal Organic Frameworks-associated with Quantum Dots," provides a timely mini-review on the hybrid use of quantum dots (QDs) and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) in cancer therapeutics. The manuscript explores the potential of QD-MOF systems, highlighting their synergistic properties for sensing, drug delivery, and photothermal/photodynamic cancer therapies. The work underscores the evolving interest in multifunctional nanocarriers and the integration of biocompatibility, targeted delivery, and theranostic applications.

Points that require improvement in the manuscript:

1. The manuscript lacks figures and tables (it includes only one table) that would facilitate content understanding. The inclusion of diagrams illustrating the main applications, properties, advantages, and limitations of QD-MOF systems, as well as a timeline representing the historical evolution of the field, would make the text more accessible and informative. Comparative tables would also be helpful to organize data from the reviewed studies and highlight differences among approaches.
2. I believe the manuscript would benefit from the inclusion of a schematic figure showing the main applications of QD-MOF systems, directly linking each application to the corresponding articles discussed. This would allow the reader to quickly identify the practical use of each study and easily access the respective references.
3. The studies are presented in isolation, without critical comparison between the different QD-MOF systems. What is needed is the addition of discussions on relative efficacy, composition, experimental models, and types of drug release. Structured comparisons would make the review more analytical and valuable to readers interested in assessing the development of the field.
4. I consider that the manuscript generalizes the therapeutic potential and biocompatibility of QD-MOF systems without solid comparative data. Statements regarding their stability and safety lack comprehensive experimental support. The review should better contextualize these conclusions based on quantitative evidence.
5. Although the review briefly mentions regulatory barriers, it does not discuss the challenges of large-scale synthesis, reproducibility, toxicity, or clinical requirements. These aspects are crucial to assessing the real-world feasibility of these systems. A deeper discussion would enhance the practical relevance of the text and help guide researchers working in this field.
6. The mention of artificial intelligence is made without any examples or empirical basis. Without studies demonstrating its application to QD-MOF systems, the proposal remains theoretical. It is necessary to support this suggestion with concrete evidence.

Author Response

Dear Editor, 

Enclosed is the revised version of previously submitted manuscript “Current Advances in the Cancer Therapeutic Applications of Metal Organic Frameworks-associated with Quantum Dots”. The corresponding author (PI) would like to thank the reviewers for their thoughtful, helpful, and constructive critiques. It is our goal to make the manuscript as strong as possible, and we feel the review process has significantly improved our manuscript. The following are our responses to the critiques. Direct quotations from the reviewers are in bold. Direct responses to the reviewers in the body of this letter are given in italic. 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Comments to the Authors:

The author has nicely written the review paper titled “Current Advances in the Cancer Therapeutic Applications of Metal-Organic Frameworks associated with Quantum Dots”. However, a few modifications are required, and the following comments need to be addressed before the paper meets publication quality:

1. Lattice Structure Importance: The lattice structure is a crucial factor in MOF-based drug delivery systems, but the author has not highlighted its significance in the manuscript. This needs to be included and discussed in detail.
2. Hybrid Drug Delivery Systems: Recently, hybrid drug delivery systems have gained significant attention in the drug delivery field. The author should cite the following relevant papers and provide a thorough explanation of this development. a) DOI: doi.org/10.1021/acsabm.4c01579 b) DOI: doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-85754-3.00006-X
3. ROS in Cancer Therapy Using MOFs: The role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cancer therapy using MOFs has garnered significant attention. The manuscript should include a description of this, with citations from the following journals, to enrich the discussion. a) DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.04.013  b) DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.158312
4. Controlled and Triggered Drug Release: The concept of controlled and triggered drug release is not adequately described. The author should elaborate on this aspect, ensuring a well-structured explanation, and cite the following manuscripts to support the discussion.
5. Tunable Pore Sizes and Surface Chemistry: The tunability of pore sizes and surface chemistry is essential for MOF-based drug delivery. The author should explain this feature in more detail, referencing the following relevant papers to support the argument.
6. Improvement in the Conclusion Section: The conclusion section of the manuscript needs to be strengthened. The author should provide a more comprehensive summary of the findings and future perspectives to enhance the overall conclusion.

Author Response

Dear Editor, 

Enclosed is the revised version of previously submitted manuscript “Current Advances in the Cancer Therapeutic Applications of Metal Organic Frameworks-associated with Quantum Dots”. The corresponding author (PI) would like to thank the reviewers for their thoughtful, helpful, and constructive critiques. It is our goal to make the manuscript as strong as possible, and we feel the review process has significantly improved our manuscript. The following are our responses to the critiques. Direct quotations from the reviewers are in bold. Direct responses to the reviewers in the body of this letter are given in italic. 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

it can be accepted

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

All the questions raised have been thoroughly addressed by the authors. After reviewing the revised version, I consider the manuscript suitable for publication.

Therefore, I recommend the acceptance of the article for publication