Metal Nanoparticle–MOF Hybrid Biosensors for Early Detection of Infectious Diseases and Antimicrobial Resistance Markers

The escalating threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the inadequacy of conventional diagnostics in early infection detection demand advanced biosensing strategies. This review highlights recent progress in biosensors based on metal nanoparticles (MNPs) and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), focusing on their roles in early diagnosis, wound monitoring, and theranostics of infectious diseases. Traditional techniques such as PCR and ELISA are limited by low sensitivity, slow processing, and poor suitability for point-of-care applications. MNP-MOF hybrids offer distinct advantages: MOFs provide high surface area and tunable porosity for effective biomarker capture, while MNPs enhance signal transduction via catalytic and plasmonic effects. Innovations include nanozyme-integrated MOFs for dual-function detection and antimicrobial activity through reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, as well as wearable sensors for real-time wound monitoring. Challenges such as MOF instability under physiological conditions, nonspecific interactions, and difficulties in scalable fabrication are addressed through biomimetic coatings, electrochemical synthesis, and integrated multimodal sensing approaches. We emphasize the emerging potential of multiplexed AMR biomarker detection and theranostic platforms combining diagnosis with targeted therapy. This review provides a translational roadmap for MNP-MOF biosensors, offering interdisciplinary insights to advance their clinical adoption and combat the global AMR crisis.