Biocatalytic Metal–Organic Frameworks: Prospects Beyond Bioprotective Porous Matrices

Abstract Biocatalytic metal–organic framework (MOF) composites, synthesized by interfacing MOFs with biocatalytic components, possessing the unprecedented synergetic properties that are hard to achieve via conventional strategies, represent one of the next‐generation composite materials for diverse biotechnological applications. Research on the applications of biocatalytic MOFs is still in its preliminary stage, with a wide variety of studies focusing on the bioprotection role of MOFs. However, their diversity of building units, molecular‐scale tunability, modular synthetic routes, and more detailed understanding of the heterogeneous MOF‐biointerface could even lead to completely new applications and potentials beyond the current imagination. The most recent progress in biocatalytic MOFs presents ground‐breaking applications in smart and tunable biocatalysis, precision nanomedicine, vaccine and gene delivery, biosensing, and nano‐biohybrids. Herein, the general and advanced synthesis strategies for improving the material properties of biocatalytic MOFs, from tuning biocatalytic activity to framework stability to synergistic properties with other materials, are summarized. Then, the latest state‐of‐the‐art applications of the biocatalytic MOF systems and recent advanced developments that are shaping this emerging field are surveyed. Finally, to define promising research directions, a critical evaluation and future prospects for the potential applications of biocatalytic MOFs are provided.