Thylakoids for enhanced photodynamic therapy in hypoxic tumours

Current tumor therapies face significant limitations such as hypoxic microenvironments, systemic toxicity, and immunosuppression. Thylakoid-based nanomaterials strategically integrate the structural-functional properties of natural biological components with the versatility of nanotechnology. These biomaterials have garnered substantial scientific interest due to their promising therapeutic potential in oncology. Thylakoids perform essential biological functions including solar energy absorption, photolytic oxygen generation, and operation of photosynthetic electron transport chains. Harnessing thylakoid-specific photochemical properties through nanoscale hybridization offers an innovative paradigm for developing multifunctional platforms in oncotherapy. This review summarizes current challenges in tumor therapy and the advantages of thylakoid-based nanomaterials in addressing these limitations. We further examine recent advances in the engineering design of thylakoid-based nanomaterials and their therapeutic applications. Finally, we discuss existing challenges and future prospects in this field.