Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-1-2025
Abstract
Despite advancements made in treatment options, cancer continues to be one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has gained attention as a minimally invasive and highly selective treatment option for cancer. However, challenges due to the hydrophobicity of photosensitizers and their poor tumor selectivity have limited their use in cancer therapy. Recent developments in nanotechnology, particularly the use of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), help overcome these challenges. AuNPs provide a stable and biocompatible platform to deliver photosensitizers, improving their solubility, stability, and ability to target tumors while reducing side effects. Functionalized AuNPs take advantage of mechanisms like the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect and active targeting, improving reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and overall therapeutic efficacy. This review explores innovations in AuNP-based PDT systems, including ligand-functionalized nanoparticles, bioresponsive coatings, and theranostic approaches that combine imaging with therapy. By delving into important aspects of synthesis, characterization, and functionalization, we show how AuNPs improve the delivery and performance of photosensitizers. For instance, systems functionalized with prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) have shown increased therapeutic precision and efficacy in vivo. These advancements are paving the way for more targeted and safer cancer treatments, establishing AuNP-based PDT as a promising approach for developing highly effective oncological therapies with greater precision and fewer side effects.
Keywords
cancer treatment, gold nanoparticles, photodynamic therapy, photosensitizers, reactive oxygen species, targeted drug delivery
Language
English
Publication Title
Photochemistry and Photobiology
Rights
© 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/BY-NC-ND/4.0/), which permits non-commercial copying and redistribution of the material in any medium or format, provided the original work is not changed in any way and is properly cited.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Lockwood ZA, Jirousek MR, Basilion JP, Burda C. Redefining cancer photodynamic therapy with gold nanoparticles. Photochem Photobiol. 2025; 101: 1120-1138. doi:10.1111/php.14099
Manuscript Version
Final Publisher Version