TABLE 1.
Summary of the advantages and disadvantages of Metal NPs.
| Metal NPs | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Au based NPs | ●Utilization for PTT, PAI | ●Limited stability under aqueous conditions |
| ●Controllable size and structure and easy surface modification | ||
| ●Optical quenching ability | ||
| ●Chemical inertness and excellent biocompatibility | ||
| Ag based NPs | ●Tuning optoelectronic properties according to size and shape | ●Ag NPs with diameters less than 200 nm are prone to aggregation |
| ●High 1O2 yield | ||
| Cu based NPs | ●High photothermal conversion efficiency | ●Potential toxicity |
| ●Low price | ||
| ●Simple synthesis | ||
| ●Controllable morphology and size | ||
| ●Microwaves-induced PDT | ||
| Ru based NPs | ●Low-lying excitation energy states and high ROS yield | ●Dark toxicity |
| ●Good photophysical and photochemical properties | ●DNA mutation | |
| ●Controllable photophysical properties | ●Being excited only by short-wave visible light | |
| ●Low photobleaching rates | ||
| ●High water solubility | ||
| Ir based NPs | ●Unique oxygen quenching pathway | ●Most Ir complexes are water-insoluble |
| ●Excellent electrocatalytic performance | ||
| ●Long triplet state lifetime and good photophysical properties | ||
| ●Significant tumor targeting ability | ||
| Metal oxide-based NPs | ●Utilization for PDT, PTT | ●Limited stability under aqueous conditions |
| ●Clinical used MRI contrast agent | ●Toxicity accumulation of NPs | |
| ●Magnetic hyperthermia and PAI | ●Physical damage from magnetic guidance | |
| ●Easy surface modification | ||
| ●High photostability | ||
| ●Large extinction coefficient | ||
| ●High emission quantum yield | ||
| UCNPs | ●Utilization for PDT, PTT, bioimaging, diagnosis, and therapy | ●Potential toxicity |
| ●Narrow emission bandwidth, large decay time, resistance to photobleaching, and no autofluorescence background | ●Limited biodegradability | |
| ●Unique optical property and utilization for luminescence imaging | ●Low drug loading capacity | |
| ●Easy surface modification and functionalization | ●Low quantum yield and superheating effects under 980 nm light source | |
| ●Ability to absorb light in the NIR region | ||
| Carbon-Based NPs | ●Strong optical absorbance and utilization for PTT, PAI | ●Induce inflammatory reactions and cytotoxicity |
| ●Unique electrical property | ●Limited biodegradability | |
| ●Easy surface modification | ●Low utilization of visible light | |
| ●High surface-to-volume ratio | ●Expensive and complex synthetic method | |
| ●Thermal stability | ||
| ●High photoluminescence quantum yield | ||
| Sulfur-based NPs | ●Utilization for PTT, CDT, PDT | ●The degradation products have potential toxicity |
| ●Good biocompatibility | ●Killing efficiency on hypoxic tumor cells is limited | |
| ●High photothermal conversion efficiency | ||
| ●Cheap and simple manufacturing method | ||
| ●Biodegradability and rapid metabolism | ||
| Phosphorus-based NPs | ●Optical and electrical properties better than carbon-based metal NPSs and sulfur-based metal NPSs | ●Weak absorption in the biowindow and low photo catalytic activity in a TME |
| ●For making photosensitizers | ●The inherent instability of BP NSs and BP QDs in water–air environments | |
| MOFs | ●Facile diffusion of ROSs through their porous structures | ●Complex design, lengthy preparation steps and high operating costs |
| ●High specific surface area | ●Early clearance by body immune system | |
| ●Controllable size, shape and function of the pore | ●Off-target accumulation | |
| ●Effectively enhance the ROS generation effect | ●Untimely drug release ability | |
| ●High PSs loadings |