Light-driven activation of metallic nanostructures in cancer therapy: from phototherapy to bioorthogonal catalysis.

Abstract

Metallic nanostructures are versatile platforms for Nanomedicine due to their optical and catalytic properties. Their strong light absorption and efficient photothermal conversion have enabled photothermal therapy (PTT) to ablate tumors within the biologically transparent near-infrared windows. Recent advances in plasmonic engineering extend their role beyond heat generation, revealing their capacity to mediate photocatalytic transformations under physiologically relevant conditions. This dual modality enables the use of Au, Pt, Pd, and Ag, as well as less conventional Ru and Rh systems for applications spanning tumor microenvironment (TME) modulation to bioorthogonal prodrug activation. Strategies employing anisotropic nanostructures, metal-semiconductor hybrids and nanozyme cascades demonstrate that light can alleviate hypoxia, modulate metabolic pathways and achieve spatiotemporally controlled drug release. These advances suggest that photoactive metallic nanostructures can move beyond conventional PTT toward programmable, light-addressable cancer therapies.