Biocompatible and bioactive engineered nanomaterials for targeted tumor photothermal therapy: A review

Abstract Currently, a lot of efforts have been applied to diagnosis and treat tumors through the fabrication of highly-efficient and multi-functional nanomaterials. Superior to other methods, photothermal therapy (PTT) has been demonstrated as a noninvasive, controllable, and targeted strategy to eliminate tumor cells. The use of functional biocompatible and bioactive nanomaterials can enhance the photothermal performances and meanwhile integrate with favorable functions, by taking into account their risk assessments. In this review, novel engineered photothermal nanomaterials, such as noble metal-, carbon-, semiconductor-, and organic molecule-based PTT agents, as well as their targeted biomedical applications were summarized and discussed comprehensively. Particularly, the latest advances of not only the conventional nanomaterials, but also the newly-discovered alternatives, like Au-Ag, graphdiyne, and selenides, were introduced. Besides the benefits, the risks and other implications of novel PTT agents were recorded and evaluated. Moreover, the potential applications of nanomaterials in targeted and multi-functional PTT treatments, which served as foundations and directions for future PTT approaches developments, were stated. Depending on the urgency and boosting demands for tumor treatments, novel engineering advancements of techniques, not limited to PTT and nanomaterials, are prerequisites in the history of medical development.