Chitosan-based metal organic frameworks: Promising materials for environmental and biomedical applications

Hybrid materials created from chitosan and MOFs have gained significant attention due to their exceptional properties, versatility in biomedical and environmental applications. Chitosan is a natural linear polysaccharide derived from the deacetylation of chitin and characterized by its biocompatibility, biodegradability and reactive –OH, –NH 2 groups that are allow for easy structural modification.MOFs are known for their high surface area, structural flexibility and tunable porosity. The stability of these composites was attained by complex formation between the chitosan functional groups and the metal centers of the MOFs, as well as interactions such as hydrogen bonds, π-π and vanderwaals forces. In environmental applications, CS-MOF composites effectively adsorb both inorganic and organic pollutants from environmental contaminants.The adsorptive removal of environmental pollutants typically involves mechanisms such as π-π, hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions. In biomedical field, CS-MOF composites are very promising materials for drug delivery, wound healing and antimicrobial applications due to the combination of the biocompatibility of chitosan and the structural versatility of MOFs. In this review, the different synthetic routes to produce CS-MOF composite and the potential applications of CS-MOF composite in biomedicine and environmental remediation are explained. Furthermore, this review summarizes current progress, challenges and future prospects of CS-MOF composites.