Recent advances in gold nanoparticle-based targeted photodynamic and photothermal cancer therapy

Cancer, the second leading cause of death worldwide, remains a major threat to human health. Current treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy and these options have significantly improved patient survival. However, they are often associated with severe side effects and high-risk of recurrence. Consequently, there is an urgent need for more effective and less invasive therapeutic strategies. Light-mediated tumor ablation techniques, such as photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT), have emerged as promising non-invasive approaches with notable potential in cancer management. Recent advances in nanomedicine, particularly the integration of photosensitizers (PS) with nanoparticles, have further enhanced the diagnostic and therapeutic efficacy of these modalities. Among various nanomaterials, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have attracted considerable attention due to their tunable optical properties, biocompatibility, and ability to mediate both PDT and PTT through controlled light irradiation and localized hyperthermia. In this review, we highlight recent progress in AuNP-based strategies for targeted photodynamic and photothermal therapies, discuss their current clinical status, and outline key challenges that must be addressed to facilitate successful translation from laboratory research to clinical practice.