Advances in Photodynamic Therapy Based on Nanotechnology and Its Application in Skin Cancer

Abstract

Comprehensive cancer treatments have been widely studied. Traditional treatment methods (e.g., radiotherapy, chemotherapy), despite ablating tumors, inevitably damage normal cells and cause serious complications. Photodynamic therapy (PDT), with its low rate of trauma, accurate targeting, synergism, repeatability, has displayed great advantages in the treatment of tumors. In recent years, nanotech-based PDT has provided a new modality for cancer treatment. Direct modification of PSs by nanotechnology or the delivery of PSs by nanocarriers can improve their targeting, specificity, and PDT efficacy for tumors. In this review, we strive to provide the reader with a comprehensive overview, on various aspects of the types, characteristics, and research progress of photosensitizers and nanomaterials used in PDT. And the application progress and relative limitations of nanotech-PDT in non-melanoma skin cancer and melanoma are also summarized.

Bibliometric Analysis of Global Research on Cancer Photodynamic Therapy: Focus on Nano-Related Research

“…However, it is commonly accepted that WoSCC is the most suitable and recommended database for bibliometric analysis, and data from this database could depict most of the information of a certain field ( Wu et al, 2021a ; Shen et al, 2022 ). Few previous bibliometric studies have two or more databases due to the limitation of file formats ( Braathen et al, 2007 ; Meulemans et al, 2019 ; Yano and Wang, 2020 ; Zhang et al, 2022 ). Second, it is difficult to accurately obtain all the related literature in this field since the diversity of keywords.…”

“…As of date, cancer ablative potential of PDT has been applied clinically to treat multiple types of cancers including skin cancer ( Braathen et al, 2007 ; Zhang et al, 2022 ), head and neck cancer ( Ahn et al, 2014 ; Meulemans et al, 2019 ), gastric cancer ( Yano and Wang, 2020 ), brain cancer ( Li et al, 2022 ), breast cancer ( George and Abrahamse, 2016 ; Dos Santos et al, 2020 ), non-small-cell lung cancer ( Chhatre et al, 2021 ), genitourinary cancer ( Bozzini et al, 2012 ; Osuchowski et al, 2021 ), and more, and most of which achieved satisfactory clinical effect. In spite of this, the depth and breadth of its clinical application have not been fully exploited due to the limitations such as oxygen deficiency within the tumor microenvironment, inadequate light penetration depth, insufficient bioavailability and targeting of PSs, and the immune escape of tumor cells ( O'Connor et al, 2009 ; Cheng et al, 2015 ).…”

The Photosensitizer Temoporfin (mTHPC) – Chemical, Pre‐clinical and Clinical Developments in the Last Decade†‡

“…pH-sensitive nanoparticles based on hyperbranched polyglycerol and 2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate loaded with temoporfin have been prepared (63,139) while polyglycerol-based nanogels with the temoporfin congener mTHPP have also been specifically tested for dermal delivery (347). Such systems are of interest for the local administration of photosensitizers specifically in skin cancer (348). Systems with a disulfide linker have been prepared as well, which make use of the difference in the redox potentials between the cellular membrane and the bloodstream (50,63).…”

Progress of Nanomaterials in Photodynamic Therapy Against Tumor

“…In addition to enhancing PSs in tumor tissues through physicochemically optimized passive targeting, ligand-modified active targeting, and stimulus-responsive release. Nanomaterials can also be combined with chemotherapy, gene therapy, immunotherapy, photothermal therapy, hyperthermia/magnetothermal therapy, radiotherapy, sonodynamic therapy to overcome the limitations of PDT ( Yang G. et al, 2021 ; Zhang P. et al, 2022 ). This study focuses on the commonly used PSs nanomodification techniques and the application of different types of novel nanomaterials for cancer treatment and diagnosis, such as nanoparticles, liposomes, hydrogels, polymers, etc.…”