Natural polymers are frequently applied in medicine and pharmacy. Enhancing drug delivery, tissue regeneration or wound healing, and diagnostics remain their primary functions. Natural polymers seem promising for photodynamic protocols, including photodiagnosis (PDD) and photodynamic therapy (PDT).  

Treatment of neoplastic diseases remains a challenge for both physicians as well as scientists, so the search for alternative methods of treatment and diagnosis based on natural materials is relevant.

Selecting the most effective material regarding the type of cancer treated remains the most challenging issue with natural polymers, currently. The technological accomplishments allow the functionalization of natural polymers by specific antibodies, or enhancement using fluorescent or quantum dot markers for diagnostic applications. 

Natural materials used in nanosystems are advantageous because of biodegradability, limited side effects and improved bioavailability. In Photodynamic therapy (PDT), employing nanosystems based on natural polymers can solve one of the problems with restrictions in the application of various photosensitizers because of their low water solubility. The latest nanotechnology research indicates the high potency in surface functionalization, which seeks to selectively detect and destroy cancerous tissues. Thus, natural polymers in anticancer therapies seem to be relevant and promising for clinical applications.

Source- Kulbacka J, Choromańska A, Łapińska Z, Saczko J. Natural polymers in photodynamic therapy and diagnosis. Polim Med. 2021 Jan-Jun;51(1):33-41. doi: 10.17219/pim/139587. PMID: 34327878.