Recent developments in nanomedicine-integrated photodynamic therapy for cancer

Abstract

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has evolved into an essential minimally invasive clinical approach, mainly in the treatment of cancer, owing to its excellent tumor tissuse selectivity, low systemic adverse effects and compatible with other types of therapy.PDT entails the activation of a photosensitizer via light at an established wavelength, in the absence of oxygen, allowing to the generation of singlet oxygen (¹O₂) and various reactive oxygen species (ROS), which collectively induce targeted cytotoxic effects and localized tumor cell destruction. Despite its clinical promise, the effectiveness of PDT against deeply seated tumor remains limited by several intrinsic barriers: suboptimal accumulation of photosensitizers at the cancer site, hypoxia inside the tumor core and impacted light penetration. Consequently, PDT has traditionally been limited to the treatment of superficial malignancies. New innovation in nanotechnology have opened new avenues to overcome these limitations, facilitating enhanced PS delivery, improved oxygenation, and deeper tissue penetration. This review critically examines the evolution and current status of nanomedicine-enabled PDT, emphasizing strategies for PS encapsulation and delivery. Furthermore, it highlights recent developments in combination therapies that synergize PDT with other treatment modalities. These integrated approaches hold significant promise in improving therapeutic efficacy and escalating the clinical utility of PDT in oncology.