Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy encapsulation technology: Frontier exploration and application prospects of novel antimicrobial technology

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (APDT) encapsulation technology, as a novel antimicrobial technology, achieves efficient and steady killing of bacteria by encapsulating photosensitizers (PSs) in different carrier structures. However, recent studies have shown the encapsulation efficiency, material selection, encapsulation pathway limitations, and complexity in encapsulated PSs, which have forced the development of APDT encapsulation technology to face the challenges posed by PS encapsulation issues. In this paper, based on the analysis of utilizing encapsulated PSs in different carrier structures to achieve efficient bacterial killing, various approaches and recent advances in APDT encapsulation technology are reviewed. First, the selection of varying encapsulation materials and diverse encapsulation methods to utilize their advantages in APDT therapy are described. Then, performance evaluation and application after encapsulation are discussed to ensure the safety and efficacy of the application. Finally, the future research and development trends of APDT encapsulation technology are envisioned. This review aims to provide timely and essential guidance for developing APDT encapsulation technology.