Abstract
Natural polymers have been commonly applied in medicine and pharmacy. Their primary function is to enhance drug delivery, tissue regeneration or wound healing, and diagnostics. Natural polymers appear promising for photodynamic protocols, including photodiagnosis (PDD) and photodynamic therapy (PDT). Currently, the most challenging issue with natural polymers is to appropriately select the most effective material regarding the type of cancer treated. The technological achievements enable functionalization of natural polymers by specific antibodies, or enhancement using fluorescent or quantum dot markers for diagnostic applications. This review will discuss the types and properties of natural polymers and available applications of PDD and PDT which seem to be promising in cancer treatment. Treatment of neoplastic diseases is still a challenge for both physicians and scientists, so the search for alternative methods of treatment and diagnosis based on natural materials is relevant.
Highlights
Cancer remains a worldwide health problem and is one of the pathologies with the most severe impact on global health
photodynamic therapy (PDT) or PDD combined with natural polymers for the enhanced photosensitizing agent delivery may represent an excellent alternative therapy for controlling malignant diseases
This review serves as a summary of the application of natural polymers in nanocarriers for drug delivery
Summary
Received on May 21, 2021 Reviewed on June 9, 2021 Accepted on June 29, 2021 Published online on July 30, 2021. Cite as Kulbacka J, Choromańska A, Łapińska Z, Saczko J. Natural polymers in photodynamic therapy and diagnosis.
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