Recent Advances in Crystalline Porous Materials for Antibacterial Applications

Bacterial infections remain a significant and escalating threat to global health, exacerbated by multidrug-resistant strains that undermine the efficacy of conventional antibiotics. This pressing issue underscores the urgent need for the development of new antimicrobial materials. Among these, molecular-based crystalline porous materials, such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs), and supramolecular assembly frameworks (SAFs), have emerged as a promising class of antibacterial agents. These materials exhibit well-defined crystallinity and tunable structures, offering exceptional versatility for antibacterial applications. Notably, their high surface area, adjustable pore size, and potential for functionalization enable efficient loading and controlled release of antibacterial agents, including metal ions and antibacterial molecules. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of recent advancements in this field, highlighting design strategies, structural diversity, antibacterial mechanisms, and applications. Finally, we discuss the current challenges and outline future opportunities for the practical development and deployment of antibacterial porous materials.