Metal–organic frameworks for electrochemical sensors of neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters (NTs) control many behavioral and physiological functions in central and peripheral nervous system, and their detection is of great importance to disease diagnosis and environmental monitoring. Electrochemical sensors have been popular and convenient methods for detection of NTs that are electroactive or can be coupled with electroactive reactions. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), constructed by organic ligands connecting metal-based nodes, are promising candidates for electrochemical sensors due to their large surface areas, hybrid structures, tailorable functional sites, and variable catalytic activity. This article gives an overview of the general aspects of MOFs for electrochemical assays of NTs and focused on the state-of-art of the sensors based on MOFs and the composites of MOFs with various materials (mainly carbon-based materials, organic polymers and metal or metal oxide nanoparticle). The use of MOF-derived materials as electrode modifiers is also included.