In this review, we highlight the design of nanomaterials for two-photon excitation, in order to treat tumors with a high accuracy. Indeed two-photon excitation allows remote control of the nanoparticles with a spatio-temporal resolution. The nanomaterials are based on mesoporous silica-organosilica nanoparticles including core-shell systems. The therapeutic treatments include drug delivery, photodynamic therapy, gene silencing, and their combinations. At first, the nanosystems designed for two-photon-triggered cytotoxic drug delivery are reviewed. Then the nanomaterials prepared for two-photon photodynamic therapy and reactive oxygen species delivery are discussed. Finally, the nanosystems combining drug delivery or gene silencing with two-photon photodynamic therapy are presented. Due to the rapid progresses concerning two-photon-excited nanomaterials and the interest of near-infrared light to treat deep tumors, we believe this technology could be of high interest for the personalized medicine of the future.
Keywords: Drug delivery; Mesoporous silica nanoparticles; Photodynamic therapy; Two-photon excitation.
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