Multifunctional Photothermal Nanoplatforms for Synergistic Tumor Therapy: Recent Advances and Perspectives

ABSTRACT Photothermal therapy (PTT) has emerged as a promising cancer treatment strategy. Under the irradiation of an external light source, photothermal materials absorb light energy and convert it into local thermal energy, thereby ablating tumors. The performance of PTT can be further enhanced by constructing photothermal composite materials. Compared with traditional cancer treatment methods such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, PTT has the advantages of minimally invasiveness, high targeting specificity, and low systemic toxicity. Meanwhile, precisely integrating PTT with multiple cancer treatment methods such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy on a nanoscale platform can overcome the limitations of single therapies and enhance the overall therapeutic effect. In light of the current research status in the field of cancer therapy, this review systematically summarizes the latest research achievements and progress of various photothermal nanomaterials in PTT, including inorganic nanomaterials (such as noble metal nanomaterials, transition metal sulfide/oxide nanomaterials, carbon‐based nanomaterials, and so forth) and organic nanomaterials (such as polymer‐based nanomaterials and small molecule‐based nanomaterials). Finally, the clinical prospects and remaining challenges of PTAs are critically outlined.