Abstract

The kinetics and efficacy of anti-cancer via phototherapy are reviewed. Factors influencing the cancer therapy efficiency in both photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) using nanogold particles and photosensitizers (PS), respectively, are analyzed. Efficacy of cancer therapy may be enhanced by combining PTT and PDT either activated by one light or two lights. For maximum PTT/PDT synergistic efficacy, the concentration of photosensitizers and nanogold required optimization, besides the wavelength of the light matching the absorption peak of PS and nanogold, and the sequential order of PTT and PDT process. External supply of either photosensitizers or oxygen concentration will significantly improve the anti-cancer efficacy via type-II PDT. The singlet oxygen threshold dose for PDT and cell viability are governed by the product of PS concentration and light dose.

Keywords: Photothermal therapy; Photodynamic therapy; Optimal; Synergistic effect; Modeling; Heat diffusion; Photochemical kinetics