Remote Light‐Responsive Nanocarriers for Controlled Drug Delivery: Advances and Perspectives

Abstract

Engineering of smart photoactivated nanomaterials for targeted drug delivery systems (DDS) has recently attracted considerable research interest as light enables precise and accurate controlled release of drug molecules in specific diseased cells and/or tissues in a highly spatial and temporal manner. In general, the development of appropriate light‐triggered DDS relies on processes of photolysis, photoisomerization, photo‐cross‐linking/un‐cross‐linking, and photoreduction, which are normally sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) or visible (Vis) light irradiation. Considering the issues of poor tissue penetration and high phototoxicity of these high‐energy photons of UV/Vis light, recently nanocarriers have been developed based on light‐response to low‐energy photon irradiation, in particular for the light wavelengths located in the near infrared (NIR) range. NIR light‐triggered drug release systems are normally achieved by using two‐photon absorption and photon upconversion processes. Herein, recent advances of light‐responsive nanoplatforms for controlled drug release are reviewed, covering the mechanism of light responsive small molecules and polymers, UV and Vis light responsive nanocarriers, and NIR light responsive nanocarriers. NIR‐light triggered drug delivery by two‐photon excitation and upconversion luminescence strategies is also included. In addition, the challenges and future perspectives for the development of light triggered DDS are highlighted.

Stimuli-Responsive Aliphatic Polycarbonate Nanocarriers for Tumor-Targeted Drug Delivery

“…The convenient and clean nature of light made the photoactivated nanocarriers an extensively studied drug delivery systems. What distinguishes light-responsive nanocarriers from other stimuli-responsive carriers is their ability to achieve a precise on-demand drug release in a spatiotemporal manner in response to non-invasive light irradiation with a specific wavelength [139]. The phototoxicity of high energy irradiation (X-rays, γ-rays) is clinically used in radiotherapy whereby damaging the DNA of tumor tissues leading to cellular death [140].…”

NIR light-assisted phototherapies for bone-related diseases and bone tissue regeneration: A systematic review

“…Various strategies have been proposed for the targeted therapy of disease regions. A noninvasive technique utilizing external stimulation to control the therapeutic effect on the targeted tissues is an ideal solution 3 - 5 .…”

“…Among several external stimuli‑responsive therapy approaches, those using light irradiation have attracted significant attention. The commonly used light for photoresponsive therapies can be generally divided into three subcategories: ultraviolet (UV) (200-400 nm), visible (Vis) (400-700 nm), and near infrared (NIR) (700-1300 nm) lights 3 . The choice of different phototherapies in clinical applications is related to the tissue penetration depth of light, which is wavelength-dependent.…”

Photosensitive Supramolecular Micelle-Mediated Cellular Uptake of Anticancer Drugs Enhances the Efficiency of Chemotherapy

“…The creation of stimuli-responsive nanocarriers has opened the door to a new generation of anti-cancer drug delivery systems that are more intelligent and effective than conventional delivery systems [29,30]. Appropriately designed nanocarriers that respond to a particular stimulus, such as temperature, redox, light, magnetic field, or pH-or even a combination of two or more stimuli-may be able to intelligently target tumor tissues and thus improve treatment efficacy and reduce unwanted side effects in normal tissues [30][31][32][33][34]. Stimuli-responsive polymeric micelles exhibit enhanced accumulation in tumor tissues due to the enhanced permeability and retention effect.…”