Challenges and opportunities in next-generation LED therapeutic devices

Abstract Phototherapy offers advantages of non-invasiveness, cost-effectiveness, localized treatment, and potential for home-based care across various medical conditions. However, its adoption is hindered by the large size, limited safety, and professional operation requirements of current phototherapeutic devices. Unlike bulky laser phototherapeutic devices, wearable and implantable LED-based devices overcome these limitations, offering improved safety, portability, and uniform light distribution, making them promising prototypes for next-generation phototherapies. This review explores the home-care potentials of phototherapy from a clinical application perspective and provides a comprehensive overview of its therapeutic mechanisms and diverse applications. By synthesizing the latest advancements and cutting-edge research, we identify key clinical challenges associated with wearable and implantable phototherapy devices and propose fundamental strategies to address these limitations, such as miniaturization, biocompatibility, and energy efficiency. Furthermore, we draw on interdisciplinary cutting-edge research to address the challenges faced by phototherapy devices. We also emphasize the critical value of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and flexible sensing technologies within phototherapy systems. Specific methods and potential applications are discussed for effectively integrating phototherapy systems with AI algorithms to establish a closed-loop diagnostic and therapeutic system. Grounded in clinical applications, we outline concrete research directions for developing next-generation LED-based phototherapy devices. This review delivers valuable insights for clinicians leveraging phototherapy and offers a roadmap for researchers in material science, flexible electronics, and AI, fostering interdisciplinary innovations to advance future phototherapy applications.