Cell membrane biomimetic nanomedicines for cancer phototherapy

Abstract

Phototherapy, mainly including photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT), can kill cancer cells by generating heat or reactive oxygen species, which has the advantages of being minimally invasive, high efficiency, and low toxicity. However, traditional phototherapeutic agents face challenges such as poor tumor targeting, susceptibility to passive immune clearance, and suboptimal biocompatibility, which limit their clinical application. Recently, cell membrane biomimetic technology endows phototherapeutic agents with unique biological functions, such as promoted immune escape, prolonged in vivo circulation time, improved biocompatibility, and enhanced anti-tumor efficacy. In addition, phototherapy mediated by cancer cell membrane (CCM) or immune cell membrane-modified phototherapeutic agents can promote broad anti-tumor immunity. In this review, we deeply analyze the mechanisms of PTT and PDT, systematically discuss the synthesis strategies and biological functions of cell membrane biomimetic nanomaterials, and focus on the progress of phototherapy based on biomimetic nanomaterials and synergistic therapies such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and sonodynamic therapy. Finally, we address the opportunities and future prospects of biomimetic nanomaterials in the field of cancer phototherapy. This comprehensive review is expected to provide insights into promoting the clinical translation of biomimetic phototherapeutic agents.