Abstract
Phototherapy is widely applied to various human diseases. Nanomedicine-based phototherapy can be classified into photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT). Activated photosensitizer kills the target cells by generating radicals or reactive oxygen species in PDT while generating heat in PTT. Both PDT and PTT have been employed for treating various diseases, from preclinical to randomized controlled clinical trials. However, there are still hurdles to overcome before entering clinical practice. This review provides an overview of nanomedicine-based phototherapy, especially in non-oncologic diseases. Multiple clinical trials were undertaken to prove the therapeutic efficacy of PDT in dermatologic, ophthalmologic, cardiovascular, and dental diseases. Preclinical studies showed the feasibility of PDT in neurologic, gastrointestinal, respiratory, and musculoskeletal diseases. A few clinical studies of PTT were tried in atherosclerosis and dry eye syndrome. Although most studies have shown promising results, there have been limitations in specificity, targeting efficiency, and tissue penetration using phototherapy. Recently, nanomaterials have shown promising results to overcome these limitations. With advanced technology, nanomedicine-based phototherapy holds great potential for broader clinical practice.
Highlights
Phototherapy is the use of light to treat disease
The current phototherapy with exogenous PSs can be broadly classified into photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) [5,6,7]
We provide the mechanisms of PDT and PTT, recent PSs with nanocarriers in phototherapy, and a comprehensive overview of clinical trials and preclinical studies using advanced nanomaterials in various non-oncologic diseases
Summary
Phototherapy is the use of light to treat disease. sunlight was used to treat disease (Heliotherapy) from BC 1400s, phototherapy0 s scientific documentation could be found at the end of the 19th century [1]. For the past several decades, phototherapy has been widely applied to various clinical diseases with nanomedicine0 s advancement, such as new generation photosensitizers (PSs) [3,4]. Recent emerging nanotechnology enables advanced PSs for PDT and PTT to enhance therapeutic performance with reduced adverse effects. Small numbers of traditional PSs have been applied to phototherapy as a treatment option for non-cancerous lesions. In this Review, we focus on the non-oncological applications of nanomedicine-based phototherapy. We provide the mechanisms of PDT and PTT, recent PSs with nanocarriers in phototherapy, and a comprehensive overview of clinical trials and preclinical studies using advanced nanomaterials in various non-oncologic diseases
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
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 call
