Cyclodextrin-Based Nanoplatforms for Tumor Phototherapy: An Update

Abstract

Tumor phototherapies are light-mediated tumor treatment modalities, which usually refer to tumor photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT). Due to the outstanding spatial-temporal control over treatment through light irradiation, tumor phototherapies display extremely low side effects during treatment and are believed to be a tumor treatment method with a clinical translation potential. However, current tumor phototherapy nanoplatforms face obstacles, including light irradiation-induced skin burning, tumor hypoxia microenvironments, limited light penetration depth, et al. Therefore, one important research direction is developing a tumor phototherapy nanoplatform with multifunctionality and enhanced pharmacological effects to overcome the complexity of tumor treatment. On the other hand, cyclodextrins (CDs) are starch-originated circular oligosaccharides with negligible toxicity and have been used to form supermolecular nanostructures through a host–guest interaction between the inner cavity of CDs and functional biomolecules. In the past few years, numerous studies have focused on CD-based multifunctional tumor phototherapy nanoplatforms with an enhanced photoeffect, responsive morphological transformation, and elevated drug bioavailability. This review focuses on the preparation methods of CD-based tumor phototherapy nanoplatforms and their unique physiochemical properties for improving anti-tumor pharmacological efficacy.

Cyclodextrins as eminent constituents in nanoarchitectonics for drug delivery systems

“…Photodynamic therapy (PDT) employs a light-sensitive medicine (photosensitizer) and a light source to destroy abnormal cells [ 72 – 73 ]. The photosensitizer absorbs the light and is activated to kill target tissue.…”

A supramolecular nanoplatform for imaging-guided phototherapies via hypoxia tumour microenvironment remodeling

“…[36][37][38][39][40] Among various non-covalent interactions, host-guest interaction has been widely used, which combines host molecules and guest molecules through specic molecular recognition. 41,42 Macrocyclic molecules such as crown ethers, cyclodextrins (CD), [43][44][45] [47][48][49] and pillararenes (P[n]A) exhibit excellent host-guest capabilities because of their unique resizable cavities. Among these macrocyclic molecules, pillararenes (P[n]A) have attracted wide interest owing to their symmetrical structure and easy modication.…”

“On‐Off” Switching of Functional Guest Molecules via Exchange of Natural Product Solubilizing Agents

“…Water solubilization of hydrophobic guest molecules is important to realize their functionalization and application in the fields of material chemistry and medicinal chemistry. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] To this aim, the use of solubilizing agents helps reduce time and costs and broadens potential applications. Especially, using natural products as solubilizing agents leads to an excellent biocompatibility and a low environmental burden.…”

“…Especially, using natural products as solubilizing agents leads to an excellent biocompatibility and a low environmental burden. For example, cyclodextrins (CDxs), which are macrocyclic oligosaccharides (Figure 1), can include guest molecules such as fullerenes and porphyrins, in an isolated state, [1][2][3][4][5] and using common fluorescence agents complexed with CDxs can avoid aggregation-caused quenching. Similarly, polysaccharides and polypeptides can include a large amount and variety of guest molecules (Figure 1).…”

“…Water solubilization of hydrophobic guest molecules is important to realize their functionalization and application in the fields of material chemistry and medicinal chemistry [1–12] . To this aim, the use of solubilizing agents helps reduce time and costs and broadens potential applications.…”