Enhanced photodyamic therapy via photosensitizer-loaded nanoparticles for cancer treatment

Abstract

Cancer is one of the most challenging human disease to cure, and has high rate to death. The current major cancer treatments include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. However, these treatments have a lot of obstacles that included low efficacy, mortality and severe aftereffects. Photodynamic therapy is developing cancer therapy that photosensitizer (PS) transfers energy from light to molecular oxygen damaged to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). These reactions occur in the immediate locale of the light-absorbing PS. Almost of PSs have obstacle to adjust in human body system. Nanoparticle systems (NS) were used to overcome problems like drug solubility, delivery and low efficacy. Nanoparticles loaded anticancer drug, small molecule drug, biomedicine and PSs. In this review, we summarize the studies that have confirmed the nanoparticle systems loading PSs which are Phthalocyanine 4, Photofrin ® , Temoporfin, Levulan ® and Foscan ® cancer therapy and discuss the future direction for the this novel therapy. © 2017, The Korean Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology.