Next-generation Nanomaterial-based phototherapeutic strategies for tumor: from NIR responsiveness to smart activation

Nanophototherapy has emerged as a transformative approach in precision oncology, synergistically integrating photodynamic therapy (PDT), photothermal therapy (PTT), and engineered nanomaterials to enhance treatment efficacy. Nevertheless, traditional tumor phototherapy still faces challenges such as insufficient performance of photosensitizers, poor targeting, limited depth of tissue penetration, imprecise thermal control and the complexities of the tumor tumor microenvironment（TME）. Addressing these obstacles has driven the evolution of tumor phototherapy toward the development of high-performance near-infrared (NIR) nanomaterials, multimodal synergistic therapies, smart-responsive nanotherapeutic platforms, and biomimetic or biologically derived nanomaterials. This review article focuses on the key advances and representative results achieved by researchers in the above four areas, with an emphasis on analyzing their potentials and challenges in enhancing therapeutic efficacy, modulating delivery, realizing deep therapy, and promoting clinical translation, with the aim of providing new ideas for the future development of nanophototherapy and scholarly research, as well as suggesting the issues that should be paid attention to when researching.