Engineering MOFs and MOF–Polymer Interfaces for Advanced Food Packaging Systems: From Structural Design to Functional Integration

Abstract

Next‐generation food packaging is evolving beyond passive containment toward adaptive systems capable of preserving food quality and communicating freshness changes. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) offer programmable metal–ligand chemistry, tunable porosity, high loading capacity, selective adsorption, and responsive signal transduction, making them promising building blocks for active and intelligent packaging. However, their practical performance may be limited by framework instability under humid or acidic conditions, poor processability, and potential migration of metal ions and organic linkers. Integrating MOFs with food‐compatible polymers provides processable architectures in which interfacial interactions regulate structural stability, molecular transport, and functional accessibility. This Review connects MOF structural engineering and MOF–polymer interfacial engineering with controlled release, antimicrobial activity, atmosphere regulation, and freshness monitoring. Particular emphasis is placed on how metal–ligand chemistry, defect structures, particle and pore architectures, and interfacial interactions govern pore accessibility, transport kinetics, stability, and signal transduction. Toxicological safety, migration assessment, and regulatory considerations are further discussed. Overall, this Review provides mechanistic design principles for balancing functionality, stability, and safety toward practically viable MOF‐based food packaging systems.