Optical functional nanomaterials for cancer photoimmunotherapy

Phototherapy not only eliminates local tumors through laser irradiation but also induces systemic immune responses against recurrent and metastatic tumors, thereby enhancing anti-tumor immunity and promoting the development of immune memory. In recent years, photoimmunotherapy (PIT) that combines phototherapy and immunotherapy has emerged as a novel cancer treatment strategy. In this review, we focus on the diverse functional nanomaterials that have been employed in cancer PIT, elaborate on the mechanism of phototherapy induced immunogenic cell death (ICD), and discuss the therapeutic potential of various functional materials in PIT. Subsequently, we extensively explore the synergistic effects of PIT with other therapeutic modalities. Finally, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current clinical applications of PIT, and discuss the challenges and prospects associated with functional nanomaterials in potential clinical applications.