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Recent Advances in Nanoparticle and Nanocomposite-Based Photodynamic Therapy for Cervical Cancer: A Review
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Department of Biochemistry and General Chemistry, College of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rzeszów, 35-310 Rzeszów, Poland
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Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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English Division Students Science Club, College of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rzeszów, 35-310 Rzeszów, Poland
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Department of Photomedicine and Physical Chemistry, College of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rzeszów, 35-310 Rzeszów, Poland
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Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Cancers 2025, 17(15), 2572; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17152572
Submission received: 7 July 2025
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Revised: 31 July 2025
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Accepted: 3 August 2025
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Published: 4 August 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Cancer Therapy)
Simple Summary
Research on nanoparticles and nanocomposites used in photodynamic therapy aims to optimize this light-activated treatment for cervical cancer, which is less invasive than surgery or radiation therapy. Embedding light-sensitive drugs in nanoparticles and nanocomposites enhances their blood circulation time and promotes preferential accumulation in tumors, reducing side effects. Some designs convert invisible light into cancer-killing wavelengths deep in the tissue, while others incorporate oxygen-enhancing agents to help treatments work better in low-oxygen areas of tumors. Many also have built-in features that allow researchers and physicians to track in real time particle trafficking and their therapeutic efficacy. Together, these advances promise a more precise and effective approach to treating cervical cancer and could guide the development of similar therapies for other hard-to-treat cancers.
Abstract
Cervical cancer represents a significant global health challenge. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) appears to be a promising, minimally invasive alternative to standard treatments. However, the clinical efficacy of PDT is sometimes limited by the low solubility and aggregation of photosensitizers, their non-selective distribution in the body, hypoxia in the tumor microenvironment, and limited light penetration. Recent advances in nanoparticle and nanocomposite platforms have addressed these challenges by integrating multiple functional components into a single delivery system. By encapsulating or conjugating photosensitizers in biodegradable matrices, such as mesoporous silica, organometallic structures and core–shell construct nanocarriers increase stability in water and extend circulation time, enabling both passive and active targeting through ligand decoration. Up-conversion and dual-wavelength responsive cores facilitate deep light conversion in tissues, while simultaneous delivery of hypoxia-modulating agents alleviates oxygen deprivation to sustain reactive oxygen species generation. Controllable “motor-cargo” constructs and surface modifications improve intratumoral diffusion, while aggregation-induced emission dyes and plasmonic elements support real-time imaging and quantitative monitoring of therapeutic response. Together, these multifunctional nanosystems have demonstrated potent cytotoxicity in vitro and significant tumor suppression in vivo in mouse models of cervical cancer. Combining targeted delivery, controlled release, hypoxia mitigation, and image guidance, engineered nanoparticles provide a versatile and powerful platform to overcome the current limitations of PDT and pave the way toward more effective, patient-specific treatments for cervical malignancies. Our review of the literature summarizes studies on nanoparticles and nanocomposites used in PDT monotherapy for cervical cancer, published between 2023 and July 2025.
