BODIPY based metal-organic macrocycles and frameworks: Recent therapeutic developments

Boron dipyrromethene, commonly known as BODIPY, based metal-organic macrocycles (MOCs) and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) represent an interesting part of materials due to their versatile tun-ability of structure and functionality as well as significant physicochemical properties, thus broadening their applications in various scientific domains, especially in biomedical sciences. With increasing con-cern over the efficacy of cancer drugs versus quality of patient's life dilemma, scientists have been trying to fabricate novel comprehensive therapeutic strategies along with the discovery of novel safer drugs where research with BODIPY metal complexes has shown vital advancements. In this review, we have exclusively examined the articles involving studies related to light harvesting and photophysical proper-ties of BODIPY based MOCs and MOFs, synthesized through self-assembly process, with a special focus on biomolecular interaction and its importance in anti-cancer drug research. In the end, we also emphasized the possible practical challenges involved during the synthetic process, based on our experience on deal -ing with BODIPY molecules and steps to overcome them along with their future potentials. This review will significantly help our fellow research groups, especially the budding researchers, to quickly and com-prehensively get the near to wholesome picture of BODIPY based MOCs and MOFs and their present sta-tus in anti-cancer drug discovery. (c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.