Clay-based bio-inorganic nanohybrids, such as layered double hydroxides (LDH), have been extensively researched in the various fields of biomedicine, particularly for drug delivery and bio-imaging applications. Recent trends indicate that such two-dimensional LDH can be hybridized with a variety of photo-active biomolecules to selectively achieve anti-cancer benefits through numerous photo/chemotherapies (PCT), including photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy, and magnetic hyperthermia, a combination of therapies to achieve the best treatment regimen for patients that cannot be treated either by surgery or radiation alone. Among the novel two-dimensional clay-based bio-inorganic nanohybrids, LDH could enhance the photo-stability and drug release controllability of the PCT agents, which would, in turn, improve the overall phototherapeutic performance. This review article highlights the most recent advances in LDH-based two-dimensional clay-bio-inorganic nanohybrids for the aforementioned applications.
Keywords: clay nanoparticles; combined photochemotherapy; future directions; inorganic bio-nanohybrids; phototherapy.