Applications of functionalized nanomaterials in photodynamic therapy

Abstract

Specially designed functionalized nanomaterials such as superparamagnetic iron oxide, gold, quantum dots and up- and down-conversion lanthanide series nanoparticles have consistently and completely revolutionized the biomedical environment over the past few years due to their specially inferring properties, such as specific drug delivery, plasmonic effect, optical and imaging properties, therapeutic thermal energy productionand excellent irresistible cellular penetration. These properties have been used to improve many existing disease treatment modalities and have led to the development of better therapeutic approaches for the advancement of the treatment of critical human diseases, such as cancers and related malaise. In photodynamic therapy, for example, where the delivery of therapeutic agents should ideally avoid toxicity on nearby healthy cells, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles have been shown to be capable of making photodynamic therapy (PDT) prodrugs and their associative targeting moieties tumor-specific via their unique response to an external magnetic fields. In this review, the nanomaterials commonly employed for the enhancement of photodynamic therapy are discussed. The review further describes the various methods of synthesis and characterization of these nanomaterials and highlights challenges for improving the efficacy of PDT in the future.

Superior Properties and Biomedical Applications of Microorganism-Derived Fluorescent Quantum Dots

“…Developments in photosensitizers have led to the advancement of PDT. Fakayode et al [ 134 ] reported the evolvement of nanoparticle self-lighting PDT (NSLPDT). NSLPDT depends on the use of QD particles, which exhibit a sustained and controlled luminescent light release after excitation.…”

Engineered nanomaterial applications in perinatal therapeutics

“…Quantum dots are classified as nanocrystals of semiconducting materials consisting of an inorganic core and an aqueous organic coated shell. In terms of medical applications, quantum dots have been utilized in a diagnostic capacity for fluorescence imaging of tissue as well as therapeutic delivery vehicles for protein or drugs [ 34 , 35 ]. Other chemicals may also be composited to create a layer particle: a magnetic diagnostic core with a therapeutic shell.…”

Photocatalytically Active Graphitic Carbon Nitride as an Effective and Safe 2D Material for In Vitro and In Vivo Photodynamic Therapy

“…The overall efficiency of PDT depends on various factors including the choice of photosensitizer (PS), wavelength of the light, tumor location and recognition and uptake by tumor cells. Nanotechnology has been proposed to overcome these limitations of PDT . In literature, there are many types of multifunctional nanoparticles that have been studied for this purpose.…”

“…Therefore, the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak of the gold nanoparticles should be tuned far from the absorption peaks of the PS. Additionally, the size, shape and dispersibility of gold nanoparticles used in a specific study should show uniformity in order to avoid any undesired biological effects . As another nanotechnological approach, quantum dots (QDs) have been reported to improve the optical properties of new and existing therapeutic agents .…”