Abstract
The development of new effective cancer treatment methods has attracted much attention, mainly due to the limited efficacy and considerable side effects of currently used cancer treatment methods such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Photothermal therapy based on the use of plasmonically resonant metallic nanoparticles has emerged as a promising technique to eradicate cancer cells selectively. In this method, plasmonic nanoparticles are first preferentially uptaken by a tumor and then selectively heated by exposure to laser radiation with a specific plasmonic resonant wavelength, to destroy the tumor whilst minimizing damage to adjacent normal tissue. However, several parameters can limit the effectiveness of photothermal therapy, resulting in insufficient heating and potentially leading to cancer recurrence. One of these parameters is the patient’s pain sensation during the treatment, if this is performed without use of anesthetic. Pain can restrict the level of applicable laser radiation, cause an interruption to the treatment course and, as such, affect its efficacy, as well as leading to a negative patient experience and consequential general population hesitancy to this type of therapy. Since having a comfortable and painless procedure is one of the important treatment goals in the clinic, along with its high effectiveness, and due to the relatively low number of studies devoted to this specific topic, we have compiled this review. Moreover, non-invasive and painless methods for temperature measurement during photothermal therapy (PTT), such as Raman spectroscopy and nanothermometry, will be discussed in the following. Here, we firstly outline the physical phenomena underlying the photothermal therapy, and then discuss studies devoted to photothermal cancer treatment concerning pain management and pathways for improved efficiency of photothermal therapy whilst minimizing pain experienced by the patient.
Highlights
Cancer is one of the biggest health problems around the world
NPs with high laser–heat conversion efficiency can selectively be uptaken by cancer tumors, most commonly due to the presence of a leaky vasculature, and under NIR laser irradiation (700–1000 nm), only cancerous tissue is heated above the damage threshold [77,78]
Since photothermal therapy has proven to be a promising approach for cancer treatment and has shown good results, controlling patients’ pain during treatment is crucial for its effective uptake in clinics
Summary
Cancer is one of the biggest health problems around the world. In their lifetime, one in two people will develop the disease and one in three will die from it [1]. In recent years, increasing the temperature of tumor cells using external heat sources, e.g., ultrasound, microwaves, and lasers, is emerging as a promising technique for the treatment of different cancers [14–16] In this area, in particular, photothermal therapy (PTT). To mitigate and manage the pain during PTT, it is required to increase the treatment efficiency by optimizing the parameters involved in the nanoparticles’ laser–heat conversion efficiency during laser exposure To this end, the physical phenomena underlying the laser–heat conversion efficiency of plasmonic NPs will be discussed . NPs with high laser–heat conversion efficiency can selectively be uptaken by cancer tumors, most commonly due to the presence of a leaky vasculature, and under NIR laser irradiation (700–1000 nm), only cancerous tissue is heated above the damage threshold [77,78].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
