Engineering tumor-oxygenated nanomaterials: advancing photodynamic therapy for cancer treatment
Tingting Zuo, Xiaodie Li, Xuan Ma, Ye Zhang, Xueru Li, Xuehai Fan, Mingze Gao, Donglin Xia, Huijun Cheng
Abstract
Photodynamic therapy (PDT), a promising treatment modality, employs photosensitizers to generate cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) within localized tumor regions. This technique involves administering a photosensitizer followed by light activation in the presence of oxygen (O 2 ), resulting in cytotoxic ROS production. PDT’s spatiotemporal selectivity, minimally invasive nature, and compatibility with other treatment modalities make it a compelling therapeutic approach. However, hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME) poses a significant challenge to conventional PDT. To overcome this hurdle, various strategies have been devised, including in-situ O 2 generation, targeted O 2 delivery, tumor vasculature normalization, modulation of mitochondrial respiration, and photocatalytic O 2 generation. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of recent developments in designing tumor-oxygenated nanomaterials to enhance PDT efficacy. Furthermore, we delineate ongoing challenges and propose strategies to improve PDT’s clinical impact in cancer treatment.