Shi Jingyu, Fan Yadi, Zhang Qin, Huang Yingying, Yang Mo
Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 999077, China.
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China.
Adv Mater. 2025 May 16:e2501623. doi: 10.1002/adma.202501623.
The rapidly advancing field of theranostics aims to integrate therapeutic and diagnostic functionalities into a single platform for precision medicine, enabling the simultaneous treatment and monitoring of diseases. Photo-energy conversion-based nanomaterials have emerged as a versatile platform that utilizes the unique properties of light to activate theranostics with high spatial and temporal precision. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent developments in photo-energy conversion using nanomaterials, highlighting their applications in disease theranostics. The discussion begins by exploring the fundamental principles of photo-energy conversion in nanomaterials, including the types of materials used and various light-triggered mechanisms, such as photoluminescence, photothermal, photoelectric, photoacoustic, photo-triggered SERS, and photodynamic processes. Following this, the review delves into the broad spectrum of applications of photo-energy conversion in nanomaterials, emphasizing their role in the diagnosis and treatment of major diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, retinal degeneration, and osteoarthritis. Finally, the challenges and opportunities of photo-energy conversion-based technologies for precision theranostics are discussed, aiming to advance personalized medicine.
