Advancements in Nanocarrier Delivery Systems for Photodynamic Therapy in Lung Cancer
Yuanyuan Wang, Tao Li, Hui Zhou, Chunyu Liu Department of Pharmacy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Chunyu Liu, Email 2608092067@qq.comAbstract: Photodynamic therapy (PDT), as a non-invasive treatment modality, has shown potential a...
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Dove Medical Press
2025-05-01
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| author | Wang YY Li T Zhou H Liu C |
| author_facet | Wang YY Li T Zhou H Liu C |
| author_sort | Wang YY |
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| description | Yuanyuan Wang, Tao Li, Hui Zhou, Chunyu Liu Department of Pharmacy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Chunyu Liu, Email 2608092067@qq.comAbstract: Photodynamic therapy (PDT), as a non-invasive treatment modality, has shown potential as an alternative to traditional therapies in lung cancer treatment. However, its clinical application is still limited by key challenges, including low photosensitizer (PS) delivery efficiency, tumor microenvironment hypoxia, and the restricted diffusion of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This review systematically discusses innovative strategies employed by nanocarrier delivery systems to overcome these bottlenecks in PDT. The first section focuses on the application and challenges of PDT in lung cancer treatment: although PDT induces localized tumor cell death through ROS generation mediated by PSs, its efficacy is hindered by the delivery barriers of hydrophobic PSs to the lung, insufficient ROS generation due to tumor hypoxia, and PS self-quenching. The second section presents nanotechnology-driven solutions: 1) using nanocarriers equipped with catalase or hemoglobin and perfluorocarbon to alleviate tumor hypoxia and enhance ROS production; 2) modifying the surface of nanocarriers with targeting ligands to improve PS accumulation in tumor tissues and reduce self-quenching effects; and 3) combining PS-loaded nanocarriers with immune checkpoint inhibitors and chemotherapy agents to synergistically enhance anti-tumor efficacy and suppress metastasis. Future research should focus on further optimizing the biocompatibility, clinical translation potential, and multimodal synergistic mechanisms of nanocarriers, to promote the widespread application of PDT in precise lung cancer treatment.Keywords: lung cancer treatment, nanocarrier delivery systems, photodynamic therapy, photosensitizers, fighting hypoxia |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9dcb435bc2a547e0b784c1916951fc7b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1178-2013 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
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| series | International Journal of Nanomedicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-9dcb435bc2a547e0b784c1916951fc7b2025-08-20T03:26:57ZengDove Medical PressInternational Journal of Nanomedicine1178-20132025-05-01Volume 20Issue 168536874103395Advancements in Nanocarrier Delivery Systems for Photodynamic Therapy in Lung CancerWang YY0Li T1Zhou H2Liu C3Department of PharmacyDepartment of PharmacyDepartment of PharmacyDepartment of PharmacyYuanyuan Wang, Tao Li, Hui Zhou, Chunyu Liu Department of Pharmacy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Chunyu Liu, Email 2608092067@qq.comAbstract: Photodynamic therapy (PDT), as a non-invasive treatment modality, has shown potential as an alternative to traditional therapies in lung cancer treatment. However, its clinical application is still limited by key challenges, including low photosensitizer (PS) delivery efficiency, tumor microenvironment hypoxia, and the restricted diffusion of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This review systematically discusses innovative strategies employed by nanocarrier delivery systems to overcome these bottlenecks in PDT. The first section focuses on the application and challenges of PDT in lung cancer treatment: although PDT induces localized tumor cell death through ROS generation mediated by PSs, its efficacy is hindered by the delivery barriers of hydrophobic PSs to the lung, insufficient ROS generation due to tumor hypoxia, and PS self-quenching. The second section presents nanotechnology-driven solutions: 1) using nanocarriers equipped with catalase or hemoglobin and perfluorocarbon to alleviate tumor hypoxia and enhance ROS production; 2) modifying the surface of nanocarriers with targeting ligands to improve PS accumulation in tumor tissues and reduce self-quenching effects; and 3) combining PS-loaded nanocarriers with immune checkpoint inhibitors and chemotherapy agents to synergistically enhance anti-tumor efficacy and suppress metastasis. Future research should focus on further optimizing the biocompatibility, clinical translation potential, and multimodal synergistic mechanisms of nanocarriers, to promote the widespread application of PDT in precise lung cancer treatment.Keywords: lung cancer treatment, nanocarrier delivery systems, photodynamic therapy, photosensitizers, fighting hypoxiahttps://www.dovepress.com/advancements-in-nanocarrier-delivery-systems-for-photodynamic-therapy--peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJNLung Cancer TreatmentNanocarrier delivery systemsPhotodynamic therapyPhotosensitizersFighting Hypoxia |
| spellingShingle | Wang YY Li T Zhou H Liu C Advancements in Nanocarrier Delivery Systems for Photodynamic Therapy in Lung Cancer International Journal of Nanomedicine Lung Cancer Treatment Nanocarrier delivery systems Photodynamic therapy Photosensitizers Fighting Hypoxia |
| title | Advancements in Nanocarrier Delivery Systems for Photodynamic Therapy in Lung Cancer |
| title_full | Advancements in Nanocarrier Delivery Systems for Photodynamic Therapy in Lung Cancer |
| title_fullStr | Advancements in Nanocarrier Delivery Systems for Photodynamic Therapy in Lung Cancer |
| title_full_unstemmed | Advancements in Nanocarrier Delivery Systems for Photodynamic Therapy in Lung Cancer |
| title_short | Advancements in Nanocarrier Delivery Systems for Photodynamic Therapy in Lung Cancer |
| title_sort | advancements in nanocarrier delivery systems for photodynamic therapy in lung cancer |
| topic | Lung Cancer Treatment Nanocarrier delivery systems Photodynamic therapy Photosensitizers Fighting Hypoxia |
| url | https://www.dovepress.com/advancements-in-nanocarrier-delivery-systems-for-photodynamic-therapy--peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJN |
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