Phototherapy: progress, challenges, and opportunities

Phototherapy has emerged as a promising modality in modern medicine, attracting significant attention due to its non-invasiveness, exceptional spatiotemporal controllability, and reduced side effects. Advanced technologies have been developed in phototherapy, encompassing three main approaches: photodynamic therapy, photothermal therapy, and photoactivatable prodrug-based therapy. In this review, we present photosensitizers, photothermal agents, and photoactivatable prodrugs, along with photo-responsive carriers used in therapy. Subsequently, we discuss the advantages of phototherapy in combating cancer, infections, and other diseases. Additionally, we highlight the benefits of combining phototherapy with other treatments, as single-mode therapeutic modalities often fail to achieve satisfactory efficiency. Finally, we address the current challenges in developing effective phototherapy agents, particularly regarding their clinical applications. We believe that advancements in phototherapy will promote non-invasive theranostic techniques for clinical studies.