Metal-organic frameworks: A promising option for the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

Beta-amyloid (Abeta) peptide is one of the main characteristic biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Previous clinical investigations have proposed that unusual concentrations of this biomarker in cerebrospinal fluid, blood, and brain tissue are closely associated with the AD progression. Therefore, the critical point of early diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of AD is to monitor the levels of Abeta. In view of the potential of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for diagnosing and treating the AD, much attention has been focused in recent years. This review discusses the latest advances in the applications of MOFs for the early diagnosis of AD via fluorescence and electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detection of AD biomarkers, fluorescence detection of the main metal ions in the brain (Zn(2+), Cu(2+), Mn(2+), Fe(3+), and Al(3+)) in addition to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the Abeta plaques. The current challenges and future strategies for translating the in vitro applications of MOFs into in vivo diagnosis of the AD are discussed.