OICC Press Journal of Nanostructure in Chemistry 2193-8865 11 4 (December 2021) 2021 07 25 Metal–polymer-coordinated complexes as potential nanovehicles for drug delivery 10.1007/s40097-021-00432-7 EN Hamed Tabasi Pharmaceutical Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Maryam Babaei Pharmaceutical Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Khalil Abnous Pharmaceutical Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Seyed Mohammad Taghdisi Targeted Drug Delivery Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Amir Sh. Saljooghi Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, IR Mohammad Ramezani Pharmaceutical Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Mona Alibolandi Pharmaceutical Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Journal Article 2021 07 25 Abstract Hybrid metal–polymer-coordinated complex, as a class of supramolecular coordinated complex, represents a great opportunity for the development of the multipurpose intelligent system of nanomedicine in drug delivery. These structures and their interesting functions are created after the self-assembly process and coordination bond formation between different metal ions and polymers. There is an important difference between metal–organic framework (MOF) and metal–polymer-coordinated complex (MPC). MPCs are convergent structures made of metal and polymeric linkers’ combination in 1D, 2D and 3D architectures while MOFs are divergent 3D network structures with metal cores and organic ligands linkers. Until now, many reviews have been published about MOF-based systems while there is no comprehensive review on MPCs. Moreover, the MPCs have exhibited potential nano-chemistry properties to be utilized in nanomedicine applications as smart and multifunction nanovesicles for drug delivery. In this review, the MPC architectures, their synthesis process and their applications in drug delivery are described. The advantages and disadvantages of MPC are summarized. We also categorized smart MPCs for on-demand drug release and intelligent delivery. Graphic abstract