A review on selenium and gold nanoparticles combined photodynamic and photothermal prostate cancer tumors ablation

Abstract

The acceptance of nanoparticle technology in the quest for cancer treatment is due to its many potentials and possibilities of filling in the gaps in the limitations of the current treatment modalities. Insights into the possibilities of getting even more from this technology, as well as the synergistic properties of photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT)—the use of reactive oxygen species (ROS)—can also be exploited in the ablation of prostate cancer tumors. Therefore, the combination of gold and selenium photoactive nanoparticles as platforms for drug delivery via PTT/PDT in prostate cancer therapy, with a specific emphasis on the 'micro-carrier' based approach, was discussed and explored in this review under relevant subtopics ranging from understanding the complex chemistry and biology of the pharmacologically active Se/Au-containing agents to giving a thorough knowledge of these therapeutic agents' potential as a targeted and successful treatment strategy for prostate cancer by investigating the complex mechanisms behind their delivery, activation, and synergistic effects. Furthermore, this article presents a comprehensive overview of the current research environment, problems encountered, and future perspectives in the continuous war against prostate cancer.