Nanomaterials for Photodynamic, Chemodynamic and Immunotherapy in Cancer
This community develops nanoscale delivery systems and catalysts that generate reactive oxygen species to destroy cancer cells, often combining these physical and chemical attacks with immune-stimulating strategies.
The work centers on synthesizing mesoporous silica nanoparticles, metal–organic frameworks, and inorganic nanomaterials to serve as carriers for photosensitizers or catalysts. These materials are engineered to produce singlet oxygen and other reactive species upon exposure to light, ultrasound, or the acidic tumor microenvironment. The titles frequently describe "synergistic therapy" and "enhanced photodynamic" effects, indicating a focus on combining photodynamic, photothermal, and chemodynamic mechanisms. A significant portion of the research targets specific cancers, including breast and colorectal cancer, while also exploring the modulation of the tumor microenvironment to activate immune responses such as the cGAS-STING pathway. The recurring emphasis on "oxygen generation" and "cell death" highlights the mechanistic goal of inducing oxidative stress and immunogenic cell death.
The community is most heavily represented in research tracked for Oxygen, accounting for 2.0% of all Oxygen research, and Silicon, where it constitutes 0.8% of the total. It also appears in Manganese research (0.7% share) and Boron research (0.6% share).
The community comprises 29,464 papers, with the highest publication volume in Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy, Photochemistry and Photobiology, and the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
Recent work continues to focus on engineering nanomaterials that modulate the tumor microenvironment, such as manganese-based nanoadjuvants for immune enhancement and ultrasound-responsive nanomaterials for synergistic cell death, alongside advances in mesoporous silica drug delivery systems.