Prospects and Precautions: A Critical Roadmap for the Clinical Translation of Organic Charge Transfer Photothermal Cocrystals

This Letter provides a critical analysis and prospective outlook on the field of organic charge-transfer (CT) photothermal cocrystals for biomedical applications, as recently reviewed by Khan et al. While acknowledging the significant promise of these materials as highly tunable photothermal agents, we identify several pivotal challenges that must be addressed to pave their translational path. Specifically, we emphasize the urgent need for comprehensive investigations into the in vivo stability, long-term biocompatibility, and clearance pathways of these molecular solids, which present unique complexities compared to single-component systems. Furthermore, we argue that the pursuit of high photothermal conversion efficiency must be coupled with strategies for targeted activation and spatial control of thermal energy to ensure treatment specificity. Finally, we highlight the immense potential of integrating CT cocrystals into multimodal therapeutic platforms, combining photothermal therapy with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or imaging modalities. Addressing these critical aspects will be paramount in transforming this exciting class of materials from a laboratory innovation into a viable clinical therapy.