Table 7.

Current applications of NIR light-responsive nanomaterials in bone-related diseases phototherapies

Applications	Administration of nanomaterials	Therapeutic mechanisms	Advantages	Drawbacks
Anticancer therapy	Direct intravenous injection	Photothermal and photodynamic properties of nanomaterials	Targeted accumulation in tumor sites, easy controllability	In vivo toxicity of non-degradable nanomaterials, unsuitable hyperthermia for normal cells as well as relatively complex design
	Implanted bone scaffolds	(a) photothermal and photodynamic properties of nanomaterials; (b) osteogenic capability of bioactive scaffolds	Efficient anticancer properties as well as osteogenic capability
	Drug delivery systems (intravenous injection)	(a) photothermal and photodynamic properties of nanomaterials; (b) combined chemotherapeutic of anticancer drugs	Combined photo-chemotherapeutic effects
Antibacterial therapy	Coating on the surface of bone implants	(a) photothermal and photodynamic properties of nanomaterials, (b) osteogenic capability of implants	Efficient noninvasive treatment of infection in deep tissue as well as simultaneous osteogenic activity
Anti-inflammation therapy	Intra-articular injection	(a) photothermal and photodynamic properties of nanomaterials; (b) combined chemotherapeutic of anti-inflammation drugs, (c) osteogenic capability of co-delivery systems	Efficient NIR light induced anti-inflammation capability, controlled release of anti-inflammation drugs as well as simultaneous osteogenic activity
Bone regeneration	Implantation	Mild local heat to promote bone regeneration	Controllable bone regeneration for precise medicine	Difficulty in controlling a suitable temperature
	Drug delivery systems (local injection)	Controlled release of osteogenic ions, drugs and proteins