Issue 15, 2024

Inorganic nanoparticles for photothermal treatment of cancer

Abstract

In recent years, inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted increasing attention as potential theranostic agents in the field of oncology. Photothermal therapy (PTT) is a minimally invasive technique that uses nanoparticles to produce heat from light to kill cancer cells. PTT requires two essential elements: a photothermal agent (PTA) and near-infrared (NIR) radiation. The role of PTAs is to absorb NIR, which subsequently triggers hyperthermia within cancer cells. By raising the temperature in the tumor microenvironment (TME), PTT causes damage to the cancer cells. Nanoparticles (NPs) are instrumental in PTT given that they facilitate the passive and active targeting of the PTA to the TME, making them crucial for the effectiveness of the treatment. In addition, specific targeting can be achieved through their enhanced permeation and retention effect. Thus, owing to their significant advantages, such as altering the morphology and surface characteristics of nanocarriers comprised of PTA, NPs have been exploited to facilitate tumor regression significantly. This review highlights the properties of PTAs, the mechanism of PTT, and the results obtained from the improved curative efficacy of PTT by utilizing NPs platforms.

Graphical abstract: Inorganic nanoparticles for photothermal treatment of cancer

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
25 nov. 2023
Accepted
14 feb. 2024
First published
19 feb. 2024

J. Mater. Chem. B, 2024,12, 3569-3593

Inorganic nanoparticles for photothermal treatment of cancer

S. Thirumurugan, S. Ramanathan, K. S. Muthiah, Y. Lin, M. Hsiao, U. Dhawan, A. Wang, W. Liu, X. Liu, M. Liao and R. Chung, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2024, 12, 3569 DOI: 10.1039/D3TB02797J

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements