Light-Responsive Inorganic Biomaterials for Biomedical Applications

Light-responsive inorganic biomaterials are an emerging class of materials used for developing noninvasive, noncontact, precise, and controllable medical devices in a wide range of biomedical applications, including photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy, drug delivery, and regenerative medicine. Herein, a range of biomaterials is discussed, including carbon-based nanomaterials, gold nanoparticles, graphite carbon nitride, transition metal dichalcogenides, and up-conversion nanoparticles that are used in the design of light-responsive medical devices. The importance of these light-responsive biomaterials is explored to design light-guided nanovehicle, modulate cellular behavior, as well as regulate extracellular microenvironments. Additionally, future perspectives on the clinical use of light-responsive biomaterials are highlighted.