Metal‐Organic Frameworks: Edible Frameworks

Abstract Metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs)—porous materials composed of organic linkers connected by metal ion or metal cluster joints—are increasingly being investigated as intravenous drug delivery vectors, as a consequence of their high molecular storage capacities, ease of functionalization, amenability to formulation, and, most importantly, the potential for MOFs with very low toxicity to be prepared. For oral administration of MOF‐based treatments, it would be most desirable to prepare materials that are suitable for human consumption, that is, edible MOFs . Currently, very little information on the safety and toxicity of MOFs is available, and so chemists must make inferences based on the properties of the precursor materials. This chapter discusses the numerous parameters that must be considered in preparing edible MOFs, including (i) available synthetic methods, (ii) desirable solvents, (iii) the metal ion(s) of choice, and (iv) the numerous categories of ligands available. Examples of porous materials that may be consumable and have interesting structures and properties, covering MOFs composed of naturally occurring linkers such as endogenous diacids, amino acids, peptides, nucleobases, and carbohydrates, as well as those prepared from petrochemically derived synthetic molecules, are provided. Finally, conclusions and suggestions for best practice are offered along with an outlook on the future of edible MOFs.