MOFs for Next-Gen Therapies

Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar M Yaghi have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2025 for the development of a new type of molecular architecture called metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), opening new avenues for applications such as drug delivery, biomedical imaging and personalised medicine.

- By Dr Manbeena Chawla, Executive Editor, [e-mail]

MOFs have undergone remarkable evolution since their discovery in the 1990s, becoming a highly researched class of porous materials. Over the years, MOFs, which were first studied for gas storage and separation, have garnered a lot of attention from the biomedical community due to their large surface area, adjustable pore size, and ability to incorporate different functional groups for particular uses. But now with the huge attention brought in by the Nobel Prize, MOFs are likely to set out on newer paths within the biomedical sector across the globe.

A groundbreaking study led by researchers from the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in Spain has harnessed the power of MOFs to create antimicrobial door handle covers that could significantly reduce the transmission of pathogens in healthcare environments. As the world continues to grapple with the challenges posed by infectious diseases, innovations like the MOF-based antimicrobial door handle covers offer hope for a future with reduced pathogen transmission and improved public health outcomes.