The nonradiative conversion of light energy into heat (photothermal therapy, PTT) or sound energy (photoacoustic imaging, PAI) has been intensively investigated for the treatment and diagnosis of cancer, respectively. By taking advantage of nanocarriers, both imaging and therapeutic functions together with enhanced tumour accumulation have been thoroughly studied to improve the pre-clinical efficiency of PAI and PTT. In this review, we first summarize the development of inorganic and organic nano photothermal transduction agents (PTAs) and strategies for improving the PTT outcomes, including applying appropriate laser dosage, guiding the treatment via imaging techniques, developing PTAs with absorption in the second NIR window, increasing photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE), and also increasing the accumulation of PTAs in tumours. Second, we introduce the advantages of combining PTT with other therapies in cancer treatment. Third, the emerging applications of PAI in cancer-related research are exemplified. Finally, the perspectives and challenges of PTT and PAI for combating cancer, especially regarding their clinical translation, are discussed. We believe that PTT and PAI having noteworthy features would become promising next-generation non-invasive cancer theranostic techniques and improve our ability to combat cancers.

中文翻译：

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通过纳米治疗学进行光热疗法和光声成像对抗癌症†

光能非辐射转化为热能（光热疗法，PTT）或声能（光声成像，PAI）已分别用于癌症的治疗和诊断进行了深入研究。通过利用纳米载体，对成像和治疗功能以及增强的肿瘤积累进行了深入研究，以提高 PAI 和 PTT 的临床前效率。在这篇综述中，我们首先总结了无机和有机纳米光热传导剂（PTA）的发展以及改善PTT结果的策略，包括应用适当的激光剂量、通过成像技术指导治疗、开发在第二个近红外窗口吸收的PTA ，提高光热转换效率（PCE），并增加肿瘤中 PTA 的积累。其次，我们介绍了PTT与其他疗法相结合在癌症治疗中的优势。第三，举例说明了PAI在癌症相关研究中的新兴应用。最后，讨论了 PTT 和 PAI 对抗癌症的前景和挑战，特别是它们的临床转化。我们相信PTT和PAI具有显着的特点将成为有前途的下一代非侵入性癌症治疗技术，并提高我们对抗癌症的能力。