Nanoparticle Platforms for Combined Photothermal and Photodynamic Therapy

Phototherapy is a promising strategy for cancer treatment due to its selective and localized therapeutic effect by laser irradiation. Photothermal therapy damages malignant cells by using heat converted from light by an agent. On the other hand, photodynamic therapy uses photosensitizers that become cytotoxic upon irradiation with laser light at excitation wavelength. As singular treatment of each phototherapy showed some limitations, there have been significant efforts to enhance therapeutic effect by combining photothermal and photodynamic therapy. Here we review recent developments of nanoparticle platforms, in which inorganic nanostructures (photothermal therapy) are integrated with photosensitizers (photodynamic therapy) for combined phototherapeutic effect.