Light‐Responsive Inorganic Biomaterials for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Abstract Light‐responsive inorganic biomaterials are an emerging class of materials used for developing noninvasive, noncontact, precise, and controllable medical devices in a wide range of biomedical applications, including photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy, drug delivery, and regenerative medicine. Herein, a range of biomaterials is discussed, including carbon‐based nanomaterials, gold nanoparticles, graphite carbon nitride, transition metal dichalcogenides, and up‐conversion nanoparticles that are used in the design of light‐responsive medical devices. The importance of these light‐responsive biomaterials is explored to design light‐guided nanovehicle, modulate cellular behavior, as well as regulate extracellular microenvironments. Additionally, future perspectives on the clinical use of light‐responsive biomaterials are highlighted.

Keywords

• drug delivery
• light‐responsive biomaterials
• photodynamic therapy (PDT)
• photothermal therapy (PTT)
• regenerative medicine