Recent progress and development on polymeric nanomaterials for photothermal therapy: a brief overview

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Photothermal therapy (PTT) utilizes photothermal agents (PTAs) to convert light energy into heat for cancer treatment.
• Inorganic PTAs like gold nanorods have been used, but face issues with biodegradability and toxicity.
• Polymeric PTAs are emerging as a promising alternative due to their advantages over inorganic materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advances in polymeric photothermal agents for PTT applications.
• To discuss the progress of conjugated polymers and melanin-like polymers in PTT.
• To address future directions and challenges in the development of polymeric PTAs.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent research on polymeric photothermal agents.
• Analysis of advancements in conjugated polymers and melanin-like polymers for PTT.
• Discussion of challenges and future potential of polymeric PTAs.

Main Results:

• Polymeric PTAs show significant promise for PTT due to improved biodegradability and reduced toxicity compared to inorganic counterparts.
• Conjugated polymers and melanin-like polymers are key areas of recent development for PTT.
• The field is rapidly advancing, with ongoing research into efficient and safe polymeric PTAs.

Conclusions:

• Polymeric photothermal agents represent a significant advancement in PTT for cancer treatment.
• Further research is needed to overcome challenges and fully realize the potential of polymeric PTAs.
• This review provides an overview for polymer chemists and material scientists entering this emerging field.