Nanomaterials‐Based Approach for Photodynamic Therapy

Abstract In recent years, all over the world mortality rate has been increasing drastically owing to cancer. This global challenge has aroused the researchers to develop novel technology. Among that, Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an advanced therapeutic modality that can be used as an alternate to chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. PDT is drawing much researcher consideration as targeted cell can be killed straight forwardly by the use of it without aggressive damage to the adjacent cell. However, its application is restricted due to inherent limitations of the conventional photosensitizers (PSs) like lacking of tumor targeting capability, inadequate light penetration, restricted PS accumulation etc. Interestingly, owing to inherent optical property and tuneable ability, uses of nanoparticles (NPs) in PDT show a grand assure to conquer the limitations. Therefore, recently nanomaterial‐based PSs, whose physicochemical properties offer multifunctional and multimodal nanoplatform for various applications such as bioimaging, bioanalytical, and therapeutic etc. is gaining much more attention. In the present review, the basic concept of photodynamic therapy, its principle and types are discussed. Subsequently, role of different organic and inorganic‐based nanomaterials in photodynamic therapy to cure cancer are highlighted.