Sonodynamic Therapy with Metal Complexes: A New Promise in Cancer Therapy

Abstract

In recent years, to overcome the problem of low tissue penetration power of light in photodynamic therapy (PDT), sonodynamic therapy (SDT) with ultrasound (US) as the drug stimulus has emerged as a potential alternative to PDT. The significantly higher tissue penetration capacity of US is reported to allow the treatment of deep-seated tumours. In general, organic molecules and nanomaterials dominate as the sonosensitizers in this area of research, and the potential of metal complexes in SDT is not yet well explored. In this highlight, we have summarized two recent literature reports in which researchers have explored the efficiency of metal complexes as sonosensitizers for the first time. These reports indicate the high potential of metal complexes in SDT.

Keywords: Metal complex; Singlet oxygen; Sono-cytotoxicity; Sonodynamic therapy; Ultrasound.