Photodynamic therapy is an emerging, minimally invasive therapeutic strategy for managing a variety of cancers. It has been investigated for more than 25 years as an unconventional treatment for cancer. Several light-absorbing and light-activating compounds are used as photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy, and it has shown significant outcomes in cancer therapy. In recent years, the role of nanotechnology in drug delivery has emerged as a valuable alternative for the treatment of cancer in photodynamic therapy. Nanotechnology has made significant contributions, and it holds many potential benefits for cancer treatment, particularly, in achieving cancer cell targeting, enhancing stability, and reducing the side effects of loaded photosensitizers/anticancer drugs. Their outstanding features, such as biocompatible and biodegradable properties, are at the forefront of developing novel carrier molecules in cancer photodynamic therapy. Nanomedicine combined with photodynamic therapy shows enhanced specificity for cancer cells and minimal side effects coupled with effective cancer destruction both in vitro and in vivo. This special issue focuses on the recent developments and new approaches to synthesizing and applying targeted nanomaterials for enhanced photodynamic therapy in cancer treatment. Original research articles and reviews are welcome.
Potential topics include, but are not limited to:
- Design, synthesis, and characterization of nanomaterials in PDT
- Different types of biocompatible and biodegradable nanomaterials in PDT
- Role of nanomaterials in PDT
- Targeted delivery of photosensitizers/anticancer drugs
- Surface functionalization of nanomaterials
- Development of nanoparticle-based delivery in cancer cell targeting
- Global clinical trials of targeted nanomaterials in cancer photodynamic therapy
