Supramolecular Approach in Photodynamic and Photothermal Therapies

Abstract

Despite the significant efforts made, cancer treatment is still a hot topic in the field of medicinal research. New advanced methods such as photodynamic and photothermal therapies are being intensively studied to tackle this serious problem.

Suitably designed photodynamic and photothermal agents (PAs) can display high therapeutic efficiency, great tumor selectivity, and, importantly, low systemic side effects. An attractive and versatile approach to prepare such agents for application in target transport and combined therapies is to use supramolecular chemistry.

This review focuses on the utilization of a supramolecular chemistry approach for the development, modification, and application of photodynamic and PAs.

Keywords

• Cancer treatment
• Combined therapy
• Medicinal chemistry
• Nanoparticles
• Photodynamic therapy
• Photosensitizer
• Photothermal therapy
• Supramolecular chemistry
• Target therapy
• Target transport