Sono-Photodynamic Therapy for Cancer Applications

Sono-photodynamic therapy is an emerging dual-modal approach that integrates the depth-penetrating capability of ultrasound with the highly localised cytotoxic action of photodynamic therapy. In this combined strategy, a photosensitiser is activated both by light and by ultrasound-induced cavitation or sonoluminescence, triggering the formation of reactive oxygen species that induce cell death in malignant tissues. By exploiting ultrasound’s superior tumour-targeting and light’s spatial precision, this therapy surmounts the penetration limits of conventional photodynamic treatment and enhances efficacy in deep-seated or hypoxic tumours. Advances in formulation science—such as oxygen-carrying nanoemulsions and multifunctional nanoparticles—have addressed barriers of tumour hypoxia and poor sensitiser delivery, paving the way for clinically relevant regimens that couple diagnostic imaging with therapeutic action.

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Sono-Photodynamic Therapy for Cancer Applications publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in sono-photodynamic therapy for cancer applications across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Photodynamic therapy: Treatment using light-activated sensitiser molecules to produce reactive oxygen species that ablate tumour cells.

Sonodynamic therapy: Use of ultrasound waves to activate sensitiser compounds, inducing cavitation and generation of cytotoxic reactive species.

Sono-photodynamic therapy: Combined modality employing both light and ultrasound to activate sensitiser agents, enhancing depth penetration and therapeutic effectiveness.

Photosensitiser: A chemical agent that, upon excitation by light or ultrasound, transfers energy to molecular oxygen to form reactive oxygen species.

Cavitation: Formation and collapse of microbubbles under ultrasound, facilitating energy transfer and enhancing reactive species production.

References

1. Enhanced Photodynamic Therapy: A Review of Combined Energy Sources. Cells (2022).
2. Perfluoropolyether Nanoemulsion Encapsulating Chlorin e6 for Sonodynamic and Photodynamic Therapy of Hypoxic Tumor. Nanomaterials (2020).
3. Dual-mode imaging and therapeutic effects of drug-loaded phase-transition nanoparticles combined with near-infrared laser and low-intensity ultrasound on ovarian cancer. Drug Delivery (2018).
4. Monitoring of singlet oxygen generation of a novel Schiff-base substituted silicon phthalocyanines by sono-photochemical studies and in vitro activities on prostate cancer cell. JBIC Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry (2024).