Metal-organic frameworks for catalysis, gas separation, and biomedical applications: Synthesis strategies, recent advances, and future prospects

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with their intricate surface morphology and versatile functionalities, have revolutionized various technological domains, including healthcare, environmental science, and industrial processes. This review delves into the latest advancements in MOF synthesis and their burgeoning applications. It highlights the significance of MOFs in medical diagnostics and treatment for critical illnesses such as cancer and diabetes, and their role in gas storage and catalysis. The review comprehensively analyses contemporary synthesis methods like solvothermal, hydrothermal, solution-precipitation, and microwave-assisted synthesis, evaluating their efficiency, user-friendliness, and environmental implications. This comprehensive review indicates microwave-assisted synthesis as the superior, sustainable option. The review further investigates cutting-edge applications of MOFs, including their use as polymerization catalysts in separating hazardous gases and a spectrum of biomedical applications from drug delivery systems to cancer and diabetes therapies. This review serves as an indispensable guide for the advancement of MOF research, pinpointing recent innovations and setting the stage for future exploratory pathways.