Metal-Organic Frameworks Show Promise in Cancer Treatment: A Bibliometric Analysis

Strategic Insights -

Research published in Discover Oncology has shed light on the potential of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) in cancer treatment. The study, conducted by a team of researchers from Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, analyzed 1955 papers on MOFs in cancer research, published in 327 journals between 2009 and 2023. The findings suggest that MOFs have superior biocompatibility and stability, making them a promising platform for drug delivery and cancer treatment.

Key Takeaways:

  • MOFs have been studied extensively in cancer research, with 7106 authors from 1591 institutions across 45 countries contributing to the field.
  • China leads in research output and international collaboration, with the Chinese Academy of Sciences as the top institution.
  • Lin Wenbin from the University of Chicago is the most influential author, and ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces is the most active journal in the field.
  • MOFs are predominantly studied for breast cancer, followed by lung and liver cancers.
  • Drug delivery remains a focal point for future research, with MOFs showing great promise in this area.
  • A total of 1955 papers on MOFs in cancer research were published in 327 journals between 2009 and 2023.
  • The study used a machine-learning-based bibliometric analysis to provide a comprehensive overview of the research landscape on MOFs in cancer treatment.

Statistics:

  • 7106 authors from 1591 institutions across 45 countries contributed to the field of MOFs in cancer research.
  • China leads in research output and international collaboration, with 34.6% of the total papers published.
  • The Chinese Academy of Sciences is the top institution in the field, with 12.3% of the total papers published.
  • Lin Wenbin from the University of Chicago is the most influential author, with 15 papers published between 2009 and 2023.
  • MOFs are predominantly studied for breast cancer, with 34.5% of the total papers focused on this area.

Sources:

  • Global trends and characteristics of metal-organic frameworks in cancer research: a machine-learning-based bibliometric analysis. Discover Oncology, 2025;16(1):978.
  • NewsRx. Tianjin Medical University General Hospital Reports Findings in Cancer (Global trends and characteristics of metal-organic frameworks in cancer research: a machine-learning-based bibliometric analysis). Journal of Engineering. June 16, 2025; p 3766.