Novel antimicrobial agents prepared on the basis of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and their applications in the food field

Bacterial infections are one of the major challenges to global public health, especially foodborne illnesses , which are mainly caused by the ingestion of food containing foodborne pathogenic bacteria. With the overuse of antibiotics, the problem of antibiotic resistance in pathogens is growing. New technologies and therapeutic approaches are needed to fight pathogenic bacteria and overcome multi-drug resistance in pathogens. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), as emerging porous nanomaterials that exhibit good physicochemical properties as well as antimicrobial properties, are being considered to fight bacteria without developing bacterial resistance. In this work, after an overview of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), the different synthesis methods and antimicrobial mechanisms of MOFs have been discussed in detail. In addition, this work summarizes the applications of MOFs in the food field in recent years. As an emerging nanomaterial, MOFs are highly antimicrobial, biodegradable and biocompatible. This makes it show unique advantages in the field of antimicrobials. The most common methods for the preparation of MOFs are conventional and solvothermal methods. Microwave-mediated methods, electrochemical synthesis, mechanical methods, acoustic-chemical synthesis and diffusion methods are also more commonly used. The inhibitory mechanisms of MOFs can be mainly categorized into physical contact, photothermal sterilisation, oxidative stress, release of metal ions and organic ligands, and synergistic antimicrobial effects of multiple mechanisms. Applications of MOFs in food sensing detection and food packaging are summarized. The potential of MOFs for antimicrobial preparation and food safety assurance is demonstrated. • Bullet point 1: Proposing MOF antibacterial nanomaterials for bacterial drug resistance problem. • Bullet point 2: The synthesis method and inhibitory mechanism of MOF are discussed. • Bullet point 3: Discussed the application of MOF in food sensing and detection. • Bullet point 4: Summarized the applications of MOF in food packaging.