Nanomedicine and Biomaterial Platforms for Photoimmunotherapy

Photoimmunotherapy, an innovative cancer treatment strategy that integrates photodynamic/photothermal therapy with immune modulation, has achieved significant advances in recent years. Currently, nanomedicine and biomaterial designs in photoimmunotherapy have evolved from simple drug carriers to intelligent systems integrating imaging, phototherapy, immune activation, and even tumor microenvironment modulation functions, capable of effectively eradicating primary tumors while activating systemic antitumor immunity to inhibit distant metastasis and tumor recurrence. In this minireview, we will discuss various nanomedicine and biomaterial platforms, including inorganic nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, and hydrogels, as well as different biologically derived materials, for applications in different types of light-triggered immunotherapies. Afterward, we will discuss design principles by which these materials enable light-triggered tumor killing, activate tumor-specific immune responses, and respond to and modulate the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment so as to synergistically improve therapeutic outcomes. The potential and challenges associated with using nanomedicine and biomaterial systems for photoimmunotherapy will also be discussed.