Abstract
Carbon-based materials have attracted research interest worldwide due to their physical and chemical properties and wide surface area, rendering them excellent carrier molecules. They are widely used in biological applications like antimicrobial activity, cancer diagnosis, bio-imaging, targeting, drug delivery, biosensors, tissue engineering, dental care, and skin care. Carbon-based nanomaterials like carbon nanotubes and graphene have drawn more attention in the field of phototherapy due to their unique properties such as thermal conductivity, large surface area, and electrical properties. Phototherapy is a promising next-generation therapeutic modality for many modern medical conditions that include cancer diagnosis, targeting, and treatment. Phototherapy involves the major administration of photosensitizers (PSs), which absorb light sources and emit reactive oxygen species under cellular environments. Several types of nontoxic PSs are functionalized on carbon-based nanomaterials and have numerous advantages in cancer therapy. In this review, we discuss the potential role and combined effect of phototherapy and carbon nanomaterials, the mechanism and functionalization of PSs on nanomaterials, and their promising advantages in cancer therapy.
Highlights
Cancer is a deadly disease, where cells grow in an enormous amount and kill a huge population worldwide
Carbon-based nanomaterials graphene and carbon nanotubes play a vital role as nanocarriers at present, and more research articles have been published as they are a good carrier to treat cancer cells both in vivo and in vivo
The surface functionalization will improve the targeting of the therapeutic efficiency of the photosensitizers for the treatment of cancer in Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)
Summary
Cancer is a deadly disease, where cells grow in an enormous amount and kill a huge population worldwide. Both developed and developing countries are largely affected and the death rate is high due to food habits, lack of exercise, genetic reasons, etc. The ancient medical technique to cure diseases with the help of sunlight was followed in various countries like Egypt, China, and India, and this treatment was slowly forgotten over time due to modern medicine. In the 15th to mid-19th century, people used to cure skin diseases following sunlight therapy named heliotherapy [4]. Phototherapy attracted the research field and many treating methods were invented for various diseases like skin disease, cancer, dental care, and eye treatment
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