Recent advances in nano-photosensitizers and their application in tumor photodynamic therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT), as an emerging cancer treatment modality, offers advantages such as minimal invasiveness, high specificity, and low side effects, demonstrating significant potential in the field of cancer therapy. As the core component of PDT, the performance of a photosensitizer (PS) directly influences the therapeutic efficacy. This review aims to summarize recent research progress on nano-PSs, covering improvements to traditional PSs and the development of novel nano-PSs. It explores the enhancement of PDT through nanotechnology, with a focus on the biosafety and photodynamic properties of different nano-PSs. Additionally, the latest advancements in PDT are discussed, including applications in multimodal therapies, nanocarriers and smart PSs, providing valuable insights for further research and clinical applications of nano-PSs in PDT.