Current status of porous coordination networks (PCNs) derived porphyrin spacers for cancer therapy

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Porous coordination networks (PCNs) have been widely used in large number of applications such as light harvesting, catalysis, and biomedical applications. Inserting porphyrins into PCNs scaffolds can alleviate the solubility and chemical stability problems associated with porphyrin ligands and add functionality to PCNs. The discovery that some PCNs materials have photosensitizer and acoustic sensitizer properties has attracted significant attention in the field of biomedicine, particularly in cancer therapy. This article describes the latest applications of the porphyrin ligand-based family of PCNs in cancer chemodynamic therapy (CDT), photodynamic therapy (PDT), sonodynamic therapy (SDT), photothermal therapy (PTT), and combination therapies and offers some observations and reflections on them.

Areas covered

This article discusses the use of the PCN family of MOFs in cancer treatment, specifically focusing on chemodynamic therapy, sonodynamic therapy, photodynamic therapy, photothermal therapy, and combination therapy.

Expert opinion

Although a large number of PCNs have been developed for use in novel cancer therapeutic approaches, further improvements are needed to advance the use of PCNs in the clinic. For example, the main mechanism of action of PCNs against cancer and the metabolic processes in organisms, and how to construct PCNs that maintain good stability in the complex environment of organisms.

Graphical Abstract

KEYWORDS:

• PCNs
• mechanism
• cancer therapy
• therapy platforms
• biomedical applications

Article highlights

• The structural advantages and application prospects of the PCN series of MOFs are presented

• A systematic summary of the use of PCNs in various cancer therapies (CDT, SDT, PDT, PTT) and in other biomedical fields

• A brief analysis of the mechanism of action of PCNs in cancer therapy

• Reflections on the challenges facing the future development of the PCN series of MOFs and their clinical application

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This research was partially funded by Dongguan Social Development Science and Technology Project [No. 20211800904802], Guangdong Medical University Research Project [1019k2022003], and Special Funds for Scientific Technological Innovation of Undergraduates in Guangdong Province [pdjh2021b0227, pdjh2021a0218, pdjh2022a0216, pdjh2022b0225 and pdjh2022b0224; pdjh2023a0228,pdjh2023b0232, pdjh2023b0234, pdjh2023b0237], National Innovation and Entrepreneurship training program for college students [202210571001; 202210571004; 202210571012; S202210571074; S202210571092; S202210571093; S202210571102, 202210571001, 202210571004, S202210571074, S202310571046, S2023010571058, S202310571058, S202310571080, S202310571088 and S202310571089]. Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation [2021A1515011616], Featured Innovation Project of Guangdong Province [2022KTSCX045] and Youth Cultivation Fund of Guangdong Medical University [GDMUQ2022017], Talent Development Foundation of The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University [PU2023005].