Perfluorocarbon nanomaterials for photodynamic therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment modality in which a photosensitizer is irradiated with light, producing reactive oxygen species, often via energy transfer with oxygen. As it is common for tumors to be hypoxic, methods to deliver photosensitizer and oxygen are desirable. One such approach is the use of perfluorocarbons, molecules in which all C–H bonds are replaced with C–F bonds, to co-deliver oxygen because of the high solubility of gases in perfluorocarbons. This review highlights the benefits and limitations of several fluorinated nanomaterial architectures for use in PDT.