Photothermal Therapy & Liposomes
What is it?
Photothermal Therapy (PTT) is one of the least invasive therapeutic modalities for cancer treatment with minimum toxicity. It mainly uses light, usually in the near-infrared (NIR) range for maximum tissue penetration, to directly kill cancer cells while converting light energy into heat.
The use of liposomes helps this therapy to be more effective because of the modification to hold anti-cancer drugs until the liposomes are heated with an external laser.
What has it been shown to do?
Research has shown that when the laser is near the tumor cells, and the liposomes are heated they release the anti-cancer drugs in a controlled manner. In a 2021 study, this method was used with the breast cancer drug Dox in cell cultures. The results showed excellent targeting ability of the liposomes, which means less damage to healthy cells. The combination of photo-chemotherapy may be beneficial towards metastatic cancers, where surgery isn’t an option.
Research Links
Choline phosphate lipid insertion and rigidification of cell membranes for targeted cancer chemo-immunotherapy
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2021/CC/D0CC08011J
Infrared Responsive Choline Phosphate Lipids for Synergistic Cancer Therapy
https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/chem.202101626
