Photoactivatable nanogenerators of reactive species for cancer therapy

Xiaohua Zheng; Yilan Jin; Xiao Liu; Tianqing Liu; Weiqi Wang; Haijun Yu

doi:10.1016/j.bioactmat.2021.04.030

Photoactivatable nanogenerators of reactive species for cancer therapy

Bioact Mater. 2021 Apr 29;6(12):4301-4318. doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2021.04.030. eCollection 2021 Dec.

Authors

Xiaohua Zheng¹, Yilan Jin^{1

2}, Xiao Liu¹, Tianqing Liu³, Weiqi Wang^{1

2}, Haijun Yu²

Affiliations

¹ School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, 226001, China.
² State Key Laboratory of Drug Research & Center of Pharmaceutics, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China.
³ NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Westmead, Australia.

Abstract

In recent years, reactive species-based cancer therapies have attracted tremendous attention due to their simplicity, controllability, and effectiveness. Herein, we overviewed the state-of-art advance for photo-controlled generation of highly reactive radical species with nanomaterials for cancer therapy. First, we summarized the most widely explored reactive species, such as singlet oxygen, superoxide radical anion (O₂ ^●-), nitric oxide (^●NO), carbon monoxide, alkyl radicals, and their corresponding secondary reactive species generated by interaction with other biological molecules. Then, we discussed the generating mechanisms of these highly reactive species stimulated by light irradiation, followed by their anticancer effect, and the synergetic principles with other therapeutic modalities. This review might unveil the advantages of reactive species-based therapeutic methodology and encourage the pre-clinical exploration of reactive species-mediated cancer treatments.

Keywords: Alkyl radicals; Carbon monoxide; Phototherapy; Reactive nitrogen species; Reactive oxygen species.

Publication types

Review