Applications of Inorganic Nanomaterials in Photothermal Therapy Based on Combinational Cancer Treatment

Cancer is one of the major causes of death and is difficult to cure using existing clinical therapies. Clinical cancer treatments [such as surgery, chemotherapy (CHT), radiotherapy (RT) and immunotherapy (IT)] are widely used but they have limited therapeutic effects and unavoidable side effects. Recently, the development of novel nanomaterials offers a platform for combinational therapy (meaning a combination of two or more therapeutic agents) which is a promising approach for cancer therapy. Recent studies have demonstrated several types of nanomaterials suitable for photothermal therapy (PTT) based on a near-infrared (NIR) light-responsive system. PTT possesses favorable properties such as being low in cost, and having high temporospatial control with minimal invasiveness. However, short NIR light penetration depth limits its functions.

In this review, due to their promise, we focus on inorganic nanomaterials [such as hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSNs), tungsten sulfide quantum dots (WS₂QDs), and gold nanorods (AuNRs)] combining PTT with CHT, RT or IT in one treatment, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of PTT-based combinational cancer therapy.

This review found much evidence for the use of inorganic nanoparticles for PTT-based combinational cancer therapy.

Under synergistic effects, inorganic nanomaterial-based combinational treatments exhibit enhanced therapeutic effects compared to PTT, CHT, RT, IT or PDT alone and should be further investigated in the cancer field.