Advancements in Nanomaterials for Photothermal Therapy: Innovations, Applications and Future Directions

Photothermal therapy (PTT) has emerged as a promising minimally invasive cancer treatment, leveraging nanomaterials' unique properties to convert light energy into heat, selectively targeting and destroying cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissues. This review explores the advancements in various nanomaterials used in PTT, including gold, carbon-based, and polymer-lipid hybrid nanoparticles. These nanomaterials offer significant advantages, such as enhanced biocompatibility, targeted delivery, and improved therapeutic efficacy. The mechanism of PTT, driven by near- infrared light and its ability to induce localized hyperthermia through plasmonic absorption and photothermal conversion is discussed. The article further delves into these nanomaterials' design and functionalization strategies to optimize their therapeutic potential, emphasizing surface modification for enhanced targeting and biocompatibility. Additionally, the integration of multimodal approaches combining PTT with chemotherapy is highlighted, showcasing the potential for synergistic effects in cancer treatment. Despite these advancements, nanoparticle toxicity, limited tissue penetration, and biosafety concerns remain. The review concludes by addressing the in vitro and in vivo applications of PTT, alongside its translation to clinical settings, underscoring the need for continued research to overcome current limitations and fully harness the potential of nanomaterials in cancer therapy.