## 5 Conclusions  
Through this work, the ability of MOFs to serve as carriers of volatile compounds, with an emphasis on EOs, has been reviewed, highlighting their potential to introduce novel and sustainable green solutions for improving the agri-food sector. Diverse examples of MOFs have been discussed regarding these applications, revealing the plethora of candidates that may arise from this large family of tailor-made materials. However, it is important to note that through this review a clear picture of the prerequisites that are dictated for a MOF to be a possible candidate is drawn. Thus, besides its overall chemical stability, and the appropriate pore size and functionality, biocompatibility arises as one of the most crucial parameters. This is further supported by the fact that the majority of the examples discussed herein focus on CD-based MOFs, which are well-known for their biocompatible character. These studies collectively highlight the versatility of \(\gamma\)-CD MOFs in encapsulating volatile compounds, offering significant potential for applications in food preservation and active packaging through tailored release mechanisms and enhanced bioactivity. Across these studies, besides their biocompatible profile, CD-MOFs also demonstrate superior encapsulation efficiency and controlled release compared to CD alone, attributed to their porous structure and tunable properties. In this way, the formulation of these molecules into periodic structures strengthens the importance of further exploring the capabilities of MOFs in these applications, and the additional benefits that they can offer due to their physicochemical nature. The release mechanisms are often influenced by environmental conditions such as humidity, temperature, and pH, allowing for stimuli-responsive delivery. These findings underscore the potential of CD-MOFs as versatile and effective carriers for EOs in agrifood applications, offering enhanced stability, controlled release, and improved functionality for food preservation and other related fields. However, despite the unique character of this category of MOFs, representatives of other MOF families were found to be effective. A few examples are reported regarding Cu\({}^{2+}\) and Zn\({}^{2+}\) MOFs, which come to the forefront of such applications regarding the additional value that their inorganic building blocks add to the antimicrobial activity of the final formulation as well as their cost-effective profile and their ease of synthesis. However, these materials are known for their weak stability in aqueous solutions, which might be a hindrance to their wider application, although, under careful design, they can be used as a trigger point for the release of the enclosed volatile under specific conditions. On this framework, more stable MOFs have also been tested as ZIFs, which are known for their chemical stability combined with their high porosity. Finally, the most recent reports also focus on the Ui family of Zr-MOFs, which are widely known for their intriguing porosity and their exceptional stability. These analogues provide versatile platforms for the encapsulation and controlled release of EOs and monoterenes which usually are one of the main EOs' components. Their high stability, tunable pore sizes, and ability to enhance the efficacy of bioactive compounds make them valuable materials for developing advanced antimicrobial and antioxidant systems in agrifood applications. Addressing challenges related to pore size effects and structural integrity will further enhance their potential in various industries. Meticulous studies shedding light on the interactions between the backbone of the MOF and the targeted volatile will unlock new directions towards both the design and synthesis of novel materials, along with improving the properties of existing porous scaffolds through appropriate modifications.