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Shedding light on nanomedicine
Author(s) -
Tong Rong,
Kohane Daniel S.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
wiley interdisciplinary reviews: nanomedicine and nanobiotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1939-0041
pISSN - 1939-5116
DOI - 10.1002/wnan.1188
Subject(s) - photothermal therapy , nanomedicine , photodynamic therapy , phototoxicity , nanotechnology , light energy , nanoparticle , medicine , materials science , chemistry , optics , biochemistry , physics , organic chemistry , in vitro
Light is an electromagnetic radiation that can convert its energy into different forms (e.g., heat, chemical energy, and acoustic waves). This property has been exploited in phototherapy (e.g., photothermal therapy and photodynamic therapy (PDT)) and optical imaging (e.g., fluorescence imaging) for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. Light‐controlled therapies can provide minimally‐ or noninvasive spatiotemporal control as well as deep tissue penetration. Nanotechnology provides numerous advantages, including selective targeting of tissues, prolongation of therapeutic effect, protection of active payloads, and improved therapeutic indices. This review explores the advances that nanotechnology can bring to light‐based therapies and diagnostics, and vice versa , including photo‐triggered systems, nanoparticles containing photoactive molecules, and nanoparticles that are themselves photoactive. Limitations of light‐based therapies such as photic injury and phototoxicity are discussed. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2012, 4:638–662. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1188 This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies Diagnostic Tools > In Vivo Nanodiagnostics and Imaging Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease