Metal organic frameworks (MOFS) as non-viral carriers for DNA and RNA delivery: a review

Abstract Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are a class of crystalline materials that, thanks to their large surface area and high porosity, allow them to be used in various areas of knowledge. This diversity of applications is due to the metal ions and the organic binders that compose them, but it is also important to highlight the ability of MOFs to function as hosts for a great variety of molecules of very different sizes and chemical properties. The first existing approaches for incorporating biomolecules in MOFs are discussed: pore encapsulation, surface binding, covalent binding, and in-situ encapsulation. Next, we discuss the obstacles of designing MOFs for effective gene delivery and how to enhance the gene delivery using different strategies.