Programmable Metal–Organic Framework Biointerfaces Against Pathogens

Emerging viral diseases continue to pose major challenges to global health, creating demand for materials that can support pathogen control, diagnosis, and therapy. Owing to their tunable structures and versatile biointerfaces, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted increasing attention in anti-pathogen applications. While previous studies have often focused on individual functions such as catalysis, biosensing, or drug delivery, a broader perspective on the functional development of MOF-based systems remains limited. In this Review, we summarize recent advances in MOF-enabled pathogen inactivation, diagnostic biosensing, host-directed intervention, and virus-inspired therapeutic platforms. Emerging opportunities in antiviral drug discovery and artificial intelligence-assisted materials design are also discussed. In addition, key challenges associated with structural stability, biosafety, scalable fabrication, and clinical translation are highlighted. This Review provides an overview of current progress and outlines perspectives for the future development of MOF-based anti-pathogen technologies.