## 4 MOFs as Smart Carriers and Delivery Systems of Sensitive Volatile Compounds  
While MOFs exhibit unique physicochemical characteristics, several fundamental prerequisites must be considered before employing them for the encapsulation and controlled delivery of sensitive volatile chemical compounds. The vast diversity of organic ligands and inorganic building blocks available for MOF synthesis allows for tailored designs; however, the following key physicochemical characteristics are essential for successful application in this context. Thus, in order to serve as effective encapsulation and delivery agents for volatile compounds in food and agrochemical-related applications MOF must fulfil the following prerequisites:  
1. Biocompatibility: Ensuring safety in agrifood applications requires MOFs to be nontoxic and compatible with biological systems, to ensure the safety of consumers and avoid side effects caused by the ingredients of MOFs. This can be achieved through the utilization of biocompatible ligands such as cyclodext, amino acids, or nucleobases as well as the use of metals with low toxicity and a low hazard of bioaccumulation in the human body as K\({}^{+}\) or Na\({}^{+}\)[111]. 2. Stability under Physiological Conditions: In the same framework, MOFs must maintain structural integrity and functionality across varying pH levels and temperatures encountered in the environments to that they will be exposed [133; 134]. 3. High Porosity and Tunable Pore Size: Efficient encapsulation and controlled release of the EO/volatile molecules necessitate high porosity and adjustable pore sizes to accommodate diverse molecular dimensions [135]. 4. High EO/volatile-Loading Capacity: Maximizing antimicrobial efficacy demands a high capacity for loading and retaining substantial amounts of the EO/volatile compound. Also, high loading of MOFs ensures the employment of smaller mass of MOF, which is both cost effective as well as safer for humans and other nonpathogenic living organisms consuming the targeted product [135]. 5. Controlled Release Mechanisms: Achieving sustained and targeted delivery requires mechanisms for controlled release, such as pH-sensitive or stimuli-responsive release. Many pathogens cause alterations in the physiological pH levels of the environment they parasitize. The immediate detection and action towards such a stimuli can be crucial [6]. 6. Functionalization Capabilities: The ability to modify the surface or internal structure of MOFs enables improved targeting, solubility, and interaction with biological molecules [136]. Since these requirements are fulfilled, the advantages offered by MOFs as carriers for such compounds significantly underscore their potential. Encapsulation within MOFs can markedly enhance the solubility and stability of volatile bioactive compounds such as EOs, safeguarding them from degradation. Moreover, freedom in functionalization of their backbone, enables the design of MOFs that target the encapsulation or even the separation of EOs or their chemical components at a molecular level enabling the isolation of targeted active compounds e.g., terpenes and terpenoids [133; 134; 137]. Furthermore, the provision of controlled and sustained release of encapsulated compounds, maintainingtherapeutic levels over extended periods, is another key advantage. The versatility of MOFs, demonstrated by their capacity to encapsulate a broad spectrum of biological molecules, including drugs, enzymes, and nucleic acids, makes them suitable for diverse biomedical applications [138]. In the context of volatiles, these advantages translate to improved protection, controlled release, and enhanced stability, making MOFs promising platforms for their effective delivery and application. In the last few years MOFs indeed have attracted the attention of scientists of the agrifood field.