Issue 24, 2016

Two-photon excitation nanoparticles for photodynamic therapy

Abstract

Two-photon excitation (TPE) nanoparticle-based photosensitizers (PSs) that combine the advantages of TPE and nanotechnology have emerged as attractive therapeutic agents for near-infrared red (NIR) light excited photodynamic therapy (PDT) for cancer treatment. TPE PDT is characterized by nonlinear absorption of two relatively low-energy photons of NIR light with the resulting emission of high-energy visible light. This high-energy light can sensitize oxygen to produce cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) and singlet oxygen (1O2) which can kill cancer cells. The long-wavelength light used to excite TPE NPs allows for deeper tissue penetration to achieve efficient PDT of deep-seated tumors. Moreover, TPE nanoparticles normally have large two-photon absorption (TPA) cross-sections, which hold great potential as efficient two-photon donors in PDT. In this review, we will summarize the recent advances made in the development of TPE nanoparticles for cancer PDT. Five different TPE nanoparticles, including quantum dots (QDs), carbon nanomaterials, silica nanoparticles, gold nanomaterials, and polymer nanoparticles, are summarized in detail, and the existing challenges as well as the future perspectives are also discussed.

Graphical abstract: Two-photon excitation nanoparticles for photodynamic therapy

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
07 Jun 2016
First published
05 Oct 2016

Chem. Soc. Rev., 2016,45, 6725-6741

Two-photon excitation nanoparticles for photodynamic therapy

Y. Shen, A. J. Shuhendler, D. Ye, J. Xu and H. Chen, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2016, 45, 6725 DOI: 10.1039/C6CS00442C

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