Enzyme Inhibitor Development Using Metal-Organic Framework Technology: Therapeutic and Agricultural Potential

Authors

  • Liang Chen Shenyang University, Liaoning, China Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.71222/5fgxms43

Keywords:

metal-organic frameworks, enzyme inhibitors, therapeutic applications, agricultural biotechnology, drug delivery, biosensors

Abstract

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as revolutionary platforms for enzyme inhibitor development, offering unprecedented opportunities in both therapeutic and agricultural applications. These crystalline porous materials, composed of metal nodes connected by organic linkers, provide unique structural properties that enable precise control over enzyme-inhibitor interactions. The high surface area, tunable pore sizes, and customizable chemical environments of MOFs facilitate the design of highly selective and efficient enzyme inhibitors. In therapeutic applications, MOF-based enzyme inhibitors show remarkable potential for treating various diseases by targeting specific enzymatic pathways while minimizing off-target effects. Agricultural applications demonstrate significant promise in developing environmentally sustainable enzyme inhibitors for pest control and crop protection. The versatility of MOF platforms allows for the incorporation of multiple inhibitory mechanisms within a single framework, enhancing overall efficacy. Recent advances in MOF synthesis and functionalization have enabled the development of stimuli-responsive inhibitor systems that can be activated under specific conditions. This comprehensive review examines the current state of MOF-based enzyme inhibitor development, highlighting key breakthroughs in design strategies, synthesis methodologies, and practical applications. The integration of computational modeling with experimental validation has accelerated the discovery of novel inhibitor-MOF combinations with enhanced selectivity and potency.

References

1. C. Zhao, F. Xing, P. Yu, Y. Zhou, R. Luo, and M. Liu et al., "Metal-organic framework-based advanced therapeutic tools for antimicrobial applications," Acta Biomater., vol. 175, pp. 27–54, 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.12.023.

2. G. Xie, W. Guo, Z. Fang, Z. Duan, X. Lang, D. Liu, G. Mei, Y. Zhai, X. Sun, and X. Lu, “Dual‐Metal Sites Drive Tandem Electrocatalytic CO2 to C2+ Products,” Angew. Chem., vol. 136, no. 47, p. e202412568, 2024, doi: 10.1002/ange.202412568.

3. H. Xia, N. Li, X. Zhong, and Y. Jiang, "Metal-Organic Frameworks: A Potential Platform for Enzyme Immobilization and Related Applications," Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol., vol. 8, 2020, doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00695.

4. Vadia Foziya Yusuf, N. I. Malek, and Suresh Kumar Kailasa, "Review on Metal–Organic Framework Classification, Synthetic Approaches, and Influencing Factors: Applications in Energy, Drug Delivery, and Wastewater Treatment," ACS Omega, vol. 7, no. 49, pp. 44507–44531, 2022, doi: 10.1021/acsomega.2c05310.

5. F. Ding, N. Su, C. Ma, B. Li, W.-L. Duan, and J. Luan, "Fabrication of two novel two-dimensional copper-based coordination polymers regulated by the 'V'-shaped second auxiliary ligands as high-efficiency urease inhibitors," Inorg. Chem. Commun., vol. 170, p. 113319, 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.inoche.2024.113319.

6. F. Ding, C. Y. Hung, J. K. Whalen, L. Wang, Z. Wei, L. Zhang, and Y. Shi, "Potential of chemical stabilizers to prolong urease inhibition in the soil–plant system#," J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci., vol. 185, no. 3, pp. 384–390, 2022, doi: 10.1002/jpln.202100314.

7. Justyna Rogacka and K. Labus, "Metal–organic frameworks as highly effective platforms for enzyme immobilization–current developments and future perspectives," Braz. J. Chem. Eng., 2024, doi: 10.1007/s43153-024-00513-4.

8. N. Yang, Z. He, and T. Lang, "Drug Delivery Systems Based on Metal–Organic Frameworks for Tumor Immunotherapy," Pharmaceutics, vol. 17, no. 2, p. 225, 2025, doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics17020225.

9. Prachi Mhettar, N. Kale, Jidnyasa Pantwalawalkar, Sopan Nangare, and N. Jadhav, "Metal-organic frameworks: Drug delivery applications and future prospects," ADMET DMPK, 2023, doi: 10.5599/admet.2057.

10. C. Orellana-Tavra, E. F. Baxter, T. Tian, T. D. Bennett, N. K. H. Slater, and A. K. Cheetham et al., "Amorphous metal–organic frameworks for drug delivery," Chem. Commun., vol. 51, no. 73, pp. 13878–13881, 2015, doi: 10.1039/C5CC05237H.

11. Pelin Sezgin, Ezgi Gulcay-Ozcan, Marija Vučkovski, A. M. Bondžić, Ilknur Erucar, and Seda Keskin, "Biomedical Applications of Metal–Organic Frameworks Revisited," Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., vol. 64, no. 4, pp. 1907–1932, 2025, doi: 10.1021/acs.iecr.4c03698.

12. M.-X. Wu and Y.-W. Yang, "Metal-Organic Framework (MOF)-Based Drug/Cargo Delivery and Cancer Therapy," Adv. Mater., vol. 29, no. 23, 2017, doi: 10.1002/adma.201606134.

13. L. He, Y. Liu, J. Liu, Y. Xiong, J. Zheng, and Y. Liu et al., "Core-Shell Noble-Metal@Metal-Organic-Framework Nanoparticles with Highly Selective Sensing Property," Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., vol. 52, no. 13, pp. 3741–3745, 2013, doi: 10.1002/anie.201209903.

14. F. Ding, C. Ma, W.-L. Duan, and J. Luan, "Second auxiliary ligand induced two coppor-based coordination polymers and urease inhibition activity," J. Solid State Chem., vol. 331, pp. 124537–124537, 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.jssc.2023.124537.

15. J. Liu, L. Chen, H. Cui, J. Zhang, L. Zhang, and C.-Y. Su, "Applications of metal–organic frameworks in heterogeneous supramolecular catalysis," Chem. Soc. Rev., vol. 43, no. 16, pp. 6011–6061, 2014, doi: 10.1039/c4cs00094c.

16. B. Chen, Z. Yang, Q. Jia, R. J. Ball, Y. Zhu, and Y. Xia, "Emerging applications of metal-organic frameworks and derivatives in solar cells: Recent advances and challenges," Mater. Sci. Eng. R, vol. 152, 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.mser.2022.100714.

Downloads

Published

16 October 2025

How to Cite

Chen, L. (2025). Enzyme Inhibitor Development Using Metal-Organic Framework Technology: Therapeutic and Agricultural Potential. Science, Engineering and Technology Proceedings, 2, 79-88. https://doi.org/10.71222/5fgxms43