Current progress in gallium-based liquid metals for combinatory phototherapeutic anticancer applications

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Oncology

Background:

• Liquid metals (LMs) possess unique properties like fluidity and conductivity, making them suitable for biomedical applications.
• Gallium-based LMs (GaLMs) offer lower toxicity and volatility, enabling their use in implantable platforms and drug delivery.
• GaLMs are effective in converting light to thermal or chemical energy, leading to photothermal and photodynamic cancer therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive review of gallium-based liquid metal-mediated phototherapeutic strategies for cancer treatment.
• To systematically interpret the structural characteristics and photo-responsive behaviors of GaLMs for anticancer applications.
• To highlight the potential of GaLMs in developing advanced engineering applications for oncology.

Main Methods:

• Review of surface coating techniques for stable and multifunctional GaLM particulates.
• Summary of current GaLM-mediated photothermal and photodynamic anticancer therapies.
• Analysis of synergistic effects with additional interventions and 3D composite gels containing GaLMs.

Main Results:

• GaLMs can be engineered into stable particulates via surface coating for targeted delivery.
• Photothermal and photodynamic therapies using GaLMs demonstrate significant potential in preclinical cancer models.
• Synergistic approaches combining GaLMs with other treatments enhance therapeutic efficacy.
• 3D composite gels incorporating GaLMs offer novel platforms for localized cancer treatment.

Conclusions:

• Gallium-based liquid metals are versatile agents for advanced phototherapeutic cancer treatments.
• Further research into GaLM structural properties and photo-responsive behaviors will optimize their clinical application.
• GaLM-based composite materials hold significant promise for future oncology interventions.