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Anticancer Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy with Lung Cancer-Targeted Nanoparticles
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Anticancer Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy with Lung Cancer-Targeted Nanoparticles

Published on: December 1, 2016

Liposome-Based Photodynamic Therapy for Breast Cancer: Innovations in Targeted Delivery, Combination Strategies, and

Nehla Banu1, Elder de la Rosa2, Muhammad Azeem Saeed1

  • 1Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Washington University of Medical School, 660 S. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110-1010, USA.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|June 12, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Liposomal nanocarriers enhance photodynamic therapy (PDT) for breast cancer by overcoming biological barriers and enabling combination treatments. This approach improves tumor targeting and efficacy, offering a promising strategy against treatment resistance.

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Nanotechnology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Breast cancer is a major cause of mortality, with conventional therapies often failing due to resistance, recurrence, and metastasis.
  • Photodynamic therapy (PDT) offers a selective tumor-killing approach using photosensitizers and reactive oxygen species (ROS), but faces challenges like tumor hypoxia and poor drug uptake.
  • Liposomal nanocarriers present a solution for targeted delivery, improved photosensitizer accumulation, and enhanced cellular internalization in breast cancer treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in liposome-based photodynamic therapy (PDT) for breast cancer.
  • To highlight the integration of multimodal therapeutic strategies with liposome-based PDT.
  • To discuss preclinical and clinical outcomes, manufacturing, and immune evasion strategies for liposomal PDT.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on liposome-based PDT for breast cancer.
  • Analysis of strategies for overcoming tumor microenvironment barriers.
  • Examination of combinational therapeutic approaches integrating PDT with other modalities.

Main Results:

  • Antigen-targeted liposomal nanocarriers improve PDT efficacy by enabling targeted delivery and overcoming biological barriers.
  • Multifunctional liposomes support combination therapies (chemotherapy, photothermal therapy, gene therapy, X-PDT, immunotherapy), enhancing antitumor effects.
  • Recent advances show promise in preclinical and early clinical settings, with considerations for manufacturing and immune response.

Conclusions:

  • Liposome-based PDT, especially when integrated with other therapies, represents a significant advancement in breast cancer treatment.
  • Targeted nanocarrier systems are crucial for overcoming PDT limitations and improving patient outcomes.
  • Further research and development are needed for clinical translation, focusing on manufacturing and minimizing immune clearance.
Keywords:
breast cancercombinational therapyphotodynamic therapy (PDT)photosensitizer

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