Microporous Materials for Therapeutic Gas Delivery: A Focus on Metal–Organic Frameworks

Abstract

Gas therapy offers powerful clinical potential but remains limited by poor control of gas concentration, localization, and stability. Microporous materials, particularly metal–organic frameworks and zeolites, present a path toward precision gas therapy by allowing selective adsorption, protection, and controlled release of therapeutic gases such as oxygen, nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen sulfide. Their permanent porosity, tunable pore size, and active metal centers enable the design of materials that respond to biological or external stimuli with high selectivity. This review highlights how structural and chemical control within microporous materials determines gas-storage and -delivery performance, with emphasis on emerging biomedical applications. The discussion includes recent advances in material synthesis, gas loading mechanisms, and biological evaluation, outlining how microporous materials can overcome current barriers in therapeutic gas administration. Future opportunities are presented for translating these frameworks into safe, efficient, and clinically adaptable systems for precision medical treatment.