Nanophotosensitizers toward advanced photodynamic therapy of Cancer

Chang Keun Lim, Jeongyun Heo, Seunghoon Shin, Keunsoo Jeong, Young Hun Seo, Woo Dong Jang, Chong Rae Park, Soo Young Park, Sehoon Kim, Ick Chan Kwon

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

250 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a non-invasive treatment modality for selective destruction of cancer and other diseases and involves the colocalization of light, oxygen, and a photosensitizer (PS) to achieve photocytotoxicity. Although this therapeutic method has considerably improved the quality of life and life expectancy of cancer patients, further advances in selectivity and therapeutic efficacy are required to overcome numerous side effects related to classical PDT. The application of nanoscale photosensitizers (NPSs) comprising molecular PSs and nanocarriers with or without other biological/photophysical functions is a promising approach for improving PDT. In this review, we focus on four nanomedical approaches for advanced PDT: (1) nanocarriers for targeted delivery of PS, (2) introduction of active targeting moieties for disease-specific PDT, (3) stimulus-responsive NPSs for selective PDT, and (4) photophysical improvements in NPS for enhanced PDT efficacy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)176-187
Number of pages12
JournalCancer Letters
Volume334
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013 Jul 1

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supported by grants from the Korea Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) (Nos. 2012-0001082 and 2012-0006061) and by the Intramural Research Program of KIST.

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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