Volume 57, Issue 36 pp. 11522-11531
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Innovative Strategies for Hypoxic-Tumor Photodynamic Therapy

Dr. Xingshu Li

Corresponding Author

Dr. Xingshu Li

Department of Chemistry and Nano Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 120–750 Korea

These authors contributed equally to this work.

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Nahyun Kwon

Nahyun Kwon

Department of Chemistry and Nano Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 120–750 Korea

These authors contributed equally to this work.

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Tian Guo

Tian Guo

Department of Chemistry and Nano Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 120–750 Korea

These authors contributed equally to this work.

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Prof. Zhuang Liu

Corresponding Author

Prof. Zhuang Liu

Institute of Functional Nano&Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123 China

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Prof. Juyoung Yoon

Corresponding Author

Prof. Juyoung Yoon

Department of Chemistry and Nano Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 120–750 Korea

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First published: 29 May 2018
Citations: 1,040

Graphical Abstract

PDT beats hypoxia: Novel and robust strategies, which can improve the therapeutic efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for hypoxic tumors, have been widely investigated in recent years. These efforts have led to the development of new approaches that have changed the paradigm of PDT and provided solutions to some key problems.

Abstract

Despite its clinical promise, photodynamic therapy (PDT) suffers from a key drawback associated with its oxygen-dependent nature, which limits its effective use against hypoxic tumors. Moreover, both PDT-mediated oxygen consumption and microvascular damage further increase tumor hypoxia and, thus, impede therapeutic outcomes. In recent years, numerous investigations have focused on strategies for overcoming this drawback of PDT. These efforts, which are summarized in this review, have produced many innovative methods to avoid the limits of PDT associated with hypoxia.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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