Photothermal Nanomaterials for Wound Monitoring and Cancer Biomedicine

Photothermal therapy using an ablation agent to generate enough heat under near-infrared light irradiation has been recognized as one of the most promising treatments in curing various ailments. As the normal cells have higher heat tolerance, thus upon increased temperature, the cancer cells and bacteria in wounds can be killed, avoiding any side effects to the normal cells. Therefore, nanomaterials with photothermal effects are used extensively for their non-invasive and selectivity attributes. This chapter summarizes the current status of used photothermal nanomaterials in wound healing and anti-cancer treatment. The proper wound treatment depends on how effectively it kills the bacteria; hence, photothermal therapy incorporates the production of reactive oxygen species (photodynamic therapy) to improve the anti-bacterial efficiency in wound healing and monitoring. This chapter compares photothermal nanomaterial-based skin wound healing and bone and cartilage regeneration. It also details the mechanism and various factors affecting photothermal and photodynamic therapy. The requirement of photothermal nanomaterials is also demonstrated as it may cause a toxic effect if it is not adequately removed from the body. Hence, in the future, the fabrication of more biocompatible and application-specific nanomaterials that could produce heat sufficient to kill the cancer cells and wound bacteria with easy removal through the body has to be investigated. Moreover, synergistic treatments and photothermal therapy have also been addressed in future trends.