About this Research Topic
Nanotechnological strategies have been explored over several decades and are still under the spotlight for effectively treating neoplastic tissues. Nanoformulated compounds, nanoparticles, and nanocarriers have been exploited for targeted drug and gene delivery, medical imaging, and theranostic applications. The use of light-absorbing nano agents combined with laser irradiation has enabled the development of several applications in photomedicine such as photodynamic (PDT) and photothermal therapies (PTT).
Several advantageous features characterize cancer phototherapies such as minimally invasiveness, the use of non-ionizing radiation, and the possibility to treat radiotherapy- and chemotherapy-refractory tumor cells. However, an open challenge toward the optimal performance of photodynamic and photothermal procedures concerns the effective treatment of the tumor, to prevent relapses, while limiting collateral tissue damage. Thus, to foster the application of nanoparticle-mediated photomedicine in the clinical routine, novel strategies and nanomaterials should be devised and investigated to increase the selectivity and specificity of the treatment for cancerous cells and to increase laser tissue penetration. To this end, recent advances have included the implementation of nano-biophotonic platforms which make use of diagnostic and sensing systems to precisely identify the target malignant site and monitor the treatment effect on the tumor. Besides, synergistic strategies combining immunotherapy, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy with PTT and/or PDT have emerged to enhance the treatment effectiveness. Moreover, in recent years, precision medicine modalities based on the identification of patient-specific phenotypes and photoresponsive drug delivery nanoparticles have paved a novel avenue for nanotechnology-assisted phototherapy approaches for cancer eradication.
In this regard, the primary goal of the present Research Topic is to showcase recent developments in nanomedicine and phototherapy for cancer treatment. Submissions presenting original research, reviews, mini-reviews, short communications, perspective articles, opinions, or case reports are encouraged. The potential topics, in the context of nanomedicine and phototherapy of tumors, covered within this article collection involve, but are not limited to:
• Nanomaterial-assisted phototherapy
• Nanobiophotonics
• Theranostic nanoparticles
• Multifunctional nanoparticles for biosensing, bioimaging, and treatment
• Photodynamic and photothermal therapies
• Image-guided nanoparticle-mediated phototherapy
• Multimodal therapies - chemo-/radio/immuno- phototherapy
• Precision medicine synergized with nanotechnology and phototherapy
• Photothermal-induced drug delivery
• Miniaturized probes for treatment and sensing during phototherapies
• Temperature measurement modalities in nanoparticle-mediated photothermal therapy
Several advantageous features characterize cancer phototherapies such as minimally invasiveness, the use of non-ionizing radiation, and the possibility to treat radiotherapy- and chemotherapy-refractory tumor cells. However, an open challenge toward the optimal performance of photodynamic and photothermal procedures concerns the effective treatment of the tumor, to prevent relapses, while limiting collateral tissue damage. Thus, to foster the application of nanoparticle-mediated photomedicine in the clinical routine, novel strategies and nanomaterials should be devised and investigated to increase the selectivity and specificity of the treatment for cancerous cells and to increase laser tissue penetration. To this end, recent advances have included the implementation of nano-biophotonic platforms which make use of diagnostic and sensing systems to precisely identify the target malignant site and monitor the treatment effect on the tumor. Besides, synergistic strategies combining immunotherapy, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy with PTT and/or PDT have emerged to enhance the treatment effectiveness. Moreover, in recent years, precision medicine modalities based on the identification of patient-specific phenotypes and photoresponsive drug delivery nanoparticles have paved a novel avenue for nanotechnology-assisted phototherapy approaches for cancer eradication.
In this regard, the primary goal of the present Research Topic is to showcase recent developments in nanomedicine and phototherapy for cancer treatment. Submissions presenting original research, reviews, mini-reviews, short communications, perspective articles, opinions, or case reports are encouraged. The potential topics, in the context of nanomedicine and phototherapy of tumors, covered within this article collection involve, but are not limited to:
• Nanomaterial-assisted phototherapy
• Nanobiophotonics
• Theranostic nanoparticles
• Multifunctional nanoparticles for biosensing, bioimaging, and treatment
• Photodynamic and photothermal therapies
• Image-guided nanoparticle-mediated phototherapy
• Multimodal therapies - chemo-/radio/immuno- phototherapy
• Precision medicine synergized with nanotechnology and phototherapy
• Photothermal-induced drug delivery
• Miniaturized probes for treatment and sensing during phototherapies
• Temperature measurement modalities in nanoparticle-mediated photothermal therapy
Keywords: nanomedicine, photomedicine, theranostic, nanoparticle-based phototherapy, tumor treatment, photodynamic therapy, photothermal therapy, thermal ablation
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