Application and Translational Research of Lanthanide/Nanomaterial-Conjugated Photosensitizers in Photodynamic Therapy

Dear Colleagues,

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a non-invasive strategy for cancer, infectious diseases, and dermatological conditions; however, its clinical translation is hindered by the limitations of traditional photosensitizers (PSs), including poor solubility, limited targeting, insufficient light penetration, and off-target phototoxicity.

Lanthanide-based nanomaterials (e.g., upconversion nanoparticles and Ln³⁺-chelated composites) and functional nanocarriers (e.g., liposomes and mesoporous silica nanoparticles) address these challenges with their unique advantages: upconversion luminescence (enabling deep-tissue PDT with near-infrared light), high PS loading, ligand-mediated targeted delivery, and synergistic effects with other therapies. Conjugating these nanomaterials with PSs optimizes photophysical properties and supports imaging-guided precision PDT.

This Special Issue welcomes the submission of high-quality original research, reviews, and perspectives on lanthanide/nanomaterial-conjugated PSs for PDT focusing on (1) design, synthesis, and characterization of conjugates; (2) mechanisms of enhanced PDT efficacy; (3) preclinical evaluations in cell/animal models; (4) biocompatibility optimization; (5) translation-oriented studies (e.g., formulation, pharmacokinetics); and (6) multi-modal platforms integrating imaging/other therapies. By highlighting cutting-edge research at the intersection of nanoscience, photochemistry, and translational medicine, this issue provides an overview of the field’s current state and future directions, accelerating the translation of innovative PDT technologies from lab to clinic.

Dr. Céline Frochot
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pharmaceuticals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.