Stimuli-responsive metal-organic frameworks for inflammatory bowel disease: Integrating targeted therapy and molecular diagnosis

Metal-organic framework (MOF) materials provide a designable platform for precisely intervening in the complex microenvironment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This review first systematically elaborates on the rational design strategies for Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) targeting the pathological features of IBD (such as abnormal pH and reactive oxygen environment), covering the selection of particle size, active metal nodes and functional ligands. Secondly, it summarizes various therapeutic construction strategies of MOFs as drug carriers or by directly constructing the drugs as the framework itself. Furthermore, it provides a detailed review of the latest therapeutic applications and mechanisms of various stimulus-responsive MOFs in IBD animal models. At the same time, the article objectively points out the fundamental challenges that this technology faces before moving towards clinical application, including long-term biological safety, the feasibility of large-scale production, and the absence of the final product form. This review aims to provide comprehensive insights and references for the development of MOF-based precise diagnosis and treatment strategies for IBD through the above systematic elaboration. • MOFs enable targeted, pH-responsive drug release in inflamed gut tissue. • Bioactive MOFs deliver both structural and therapeutic functions in IBD. • Scalable synthesis yields biocompatible MOFs for clinical translation. • MOFs alleviate inflammation and oxidative stress in the colon. • Theranostic MOFs integrate drug delivery with inflammation detection.