Synergistic Nanomedicine: Photodynamic, Photothermal and Photoimmune Therapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Fulfilling the Myth of Prometheus?
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer, with high morbidity and mortality, which seriously threatens the health and life expectancy of patients. The traditional methods of treatment by surgical ablation, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and more recently immunother...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-05-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/9/8308 |
| _version_ | 1797602357279719424 |
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| author | Laura Marinela Ailioaie Constantin Ailioaie Gerhard Litscher |
| author_facet | Laura Marinela Ailioaie Constantin Ailioaie Gerhard Litscher |
| author_sort | Laura Marinela Ailioaie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer, with high morbidity and mortality, which seriously threatens the health and life expectancy of patients. The traditional methods of treatment by surgical ablation, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and more recently immunotherapy have not given the expected results in HCC. New integrative combined therapies, such as photothermal, photodynamic, photoimmune therapy (PTT, PDT, PIT), and smart multifunctional platforms loaded with nanodrugs were studied in this review as viable solutions in the synergistic nanomedicine of the future. The main aim was to reveal the latest findings and open additional avenues for accelerating the adoption of innovative approaches for the multi-target management of HCC. High-tech experimental medical applications in the molecular and cellular research of photosensitizers, novel light and laser energy delivery systems and the features of photomedicine integration via PDT, PTT and PIT in immuno-oncology, from bench to bedside, were introspected. Near-infrared PIT as a treatment of HCC has been developed over the past decade based on novel targeted molecules to selectively suppress cancer cells, overcome immune blocking barriers, initiate a cascade of helpful immune responses, and generate distant autoimmune responses that inhibit metastasis and recurrences, through high-tech and intelligent real-time monitoring. The process of putting into effect new targeted molecules and the intelligent, multifunctional solutions for therapy will bring patients new hope for a longer life or even a cure, and the fulfillment of the myth of Prometheus. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:15:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-28959ced3f914830b9d090971c54d485 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:15:55Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-28959ced3f914830b9d090971c54d4852023-11-17T23:07:48ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672023-05-01249830810.3390/ijms24098308Synergistic Nanomedicine: Photodynamic, Photothermal and Photoimmune Therapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Fulfilling the Myth of Prometheus?Laura Marinela Ailioaie0Constantin Ailioaie1Gerhard Litscher2Department of Medical Physics, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, 11 Carol I Boulevard, 700506 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment of Medical Physics, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, 11 Carol I Boulevard, 700506 Iasi, RomaniaPresident of the International Society for Medical Laser Applications (ISLA Transcontinental), German Vice President of the German-Chinese Research Foundation (DCFG) for TCM, Honorary President of the European Federation of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Societies, 8053 Graz, AustriaHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer, with high morbidity and mortality, which seriously threatens the health and life expectancy of patients. The traditional methods of treatment by surgical ablation, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and more recently immunotherapy have not given the expected results in HCC. New integrative combined therapies, such as photothermal, photodynamic, photoimmune therapy (PTT, PDT, PIT), and smart multifunctional platforms loaded with nanodrugs were studied in this review as viable solutions in the synergistic nanomedicine of the future. The main aim was to reveal the latest findings and open additional avenues for accelerating the adoption of innovative approaches for the multi-target management of HCC. High-tech experimental medical applications in the molecular and cellular research of photosensitizers, novel light and laser energy delivery systems and the features of photomedicine integration via PDT, PTT and PIT in immuno-oncology, from bench to bedside, were introspected. Near-infrared PIT as a treatment of HCC has been developed over the past decade based on novel targeted molecules to selectively suppress cancer cells, overcome immune blocking barriers, initiate a cascade of helpful immune responses, and generate distant autoimmune responses that inhibit metastasis and recurrences, through high-tech and intelligent real-time monitoring. The process of putting into effect new targeted molecules and the intelligent, multifunctional solutions for therapy will bring patients new hope for a longer life or even a cure, and the fulfillment of the myth of Prometheus.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/9/8308cancerhepatocarcinomaintegrative nanomedicinelaserslightliver |
| spellingShingle | Laura Marinela Ailioaie Constantin Ailioaie Gerhard Litscher Synergistic Nanomedicine: Photodynamic, Photothermal and Photoimmune Therapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Fulfilling the Myth of Prometheus? International Journal of Molecular Sciences cancer hepatocarcinoma integrative nanomedicine lasers light liver |
| title | Synergistic Nanomedicine: Photodynamic, Photothermal and Photoimmune Therapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Fulfilling the Myth of Prometheus? |
| title_full | Synergistic Nanomedicine: Photodynamic, Photothermal and Photoimmune Therapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Fulfilling the Myth of Prometheus? |
| title_fullStr | Synergistic Nanomedicine: Photodynamic, Photothermal and Photoimmune Therapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Fulfilling the Myth of Prometheus? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Synergistic Nanomedicine: Photodynamic, Photothermal and Photoimmune Therapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Fulfilling the Myth of Prometheus? |
| title_short | Synergistic Nanomedicine: Photodynamic, Photothermal and Photoimmune Therapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Fulfilling the Myth of Prometheus? |
| title_sort | synergistic nanomedicine photodynamic photothermal and photoimmune therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma fulfilling the myth of prometheus |
| topic | cancer hepatocarcinoma integrative nanomedicine lasers light liver |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/9/8308 |
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