Application and Translational Research of Lanthanide/Nanomaterial-Conjugated Photosensitizers in Photodynamic Therapy
A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Pharmaceutical Technology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 April 2026 | Viewed by 23
Special Issue Editor
Interests: photodynamic therapy; cancer; photosensitizer; nanoparticles; targeting; fluorescence
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
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
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Keywords
- lanthanide-based nanomaterials
- nanomaterial-conjugated photosensitizers
- photodynamic therapy (PDT)
- targeted delivery
- upconversion luminescence
- preclinical evaluation
- translational research
- biocompatibility
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