2. Academic Validation
  3. Photosensitizer-Functionalized Nanocomposites for Light-Activated Cancer Theranostics

Photosensitizer-Functionalized Nanocomposites for Light-Activated Cancer Theranostics

  • Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Jun 22;22(13):6658. doi: 10.3390/ijms22136658.
Banendu Sunder Dash 1,  Suprava Das 1,  Jyh-Ping Chen 1 2 3 4
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Chang Gung University, Kwei-San, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan.
  • 2 Craniofacial Research Center, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Kwei-San, Taoyuan 33305, Taiwan.
  • 3 Research Center for Food and Cosmetic Safety, Research Center for Chinese Herbal Medicine, College of Human Ecology, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan 33305, Taiwan.
  • 4 Department of Materials Engineering, Ming Chi University of Technology, Tai-Shan, New Taipei City 24301, Taiwan.
PMID: 34206318 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22136658
Abstract

Photosensitizers (PSs) have received significant attention recently in Cancer treatment due to its theranostic capability for imaging and phototherapy. These PSs are highly responsive to light source of a suitable wavelength for image-guided Cancer therapy from generated singlet oxygen and/or thermal heat. Various organic dye PSs show tremendous attenuation of tumor cells during Cancer treatment. Among them, porphyrin and chlorophyll-based ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) dyes are employed for photodynamic therapy (PDT) by Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and free radicals generated with 400-700 nm laser lights, which have poor tissue penetration depth. To enhance the efficacy of PDT, Other light sources such as red light laser and X-ray have been suggested; nonetheless, it is still a challenging task to improve the light penetration depth for deep tumor treatment. To overcome this deficiency, near infrared (NIR) (700-900 nm) PSs, indocyanine green (ICG), and its derivatives like IR780, IR806 and IR820, have been introduced for imaging and phototherapy. These NIR PSs have been used in various Cancer treatment modality by combining photothermal therapy (PTT) and/or PDT with chemotherapy or immunotherapy. In this review, we will focus on the use of different PSs showing photothermal/photodynamic response to UV-Vis or NIR-Vis light. The emphasis is a comprehensive review of recent smart design of PS-loaded nanocomposites for targeted delivery of PSs in light-activated combination Cancer therapy.

Keywords

cancer therapy; nanocomposite; photodynamic therapy; photosensitizer; photothermal therapy.

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