# Recent Advances in Nanoparticle-Mediated Antibacterial Photodynamic Therapy

## TL;DR

This review explores how nanoparticles improve light-based antibacterial treatments, offering a promising solution to antibiotic resistance.

## Contribution

The paper synthesizes recent advances in nanoparticle-mediated aPDT and proposes design principles for clinical translation.

## Key findings

- Nanoparticle platforms like UCNPs and MSNs enhance ROS generation and targeted bacterial eradication.
- Combining aPDT with photothermal or immunotherapeutic approaches shows synergistic effects.
- Nanomaterial-mediated aPDT is effective against drug-resistant strains and in chronic wound environments.

## Abstract

The escalating threat of antibiotic resistance has prompted the search for alternative antibacterial therapies. Antibacterial photodynamic therapy (aPDT), which utilizes light-activated photosensitizers to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), offers a promising, non-invasive approach. The aim of this review is to analyze recent advances in nanoparticle-mediated aPDT and synthesize crucial design principles necessary to overcome the current translational barriers, thereby establishing a roadmap for future clinically applicable antimicrobial treatments. Emerging nanoparticle platforms, including upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs), carbon dots (CDs), mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), liposomes, and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), have demonstrated improved photosensitizer delivery, enhanced ROS generation, biofilm disruption, and targeted bacterial eradication. Synergistic effects are observed when aPDT is integrated with photothermal, chemodynamic, or immunotherapeutic approaches. The review further examines the mechanisms of action, biocompatibility, and antibacterial performance of these nanoparticle systems, particularly against drug-resistant strains and in challenging environments such as chronic wounds. Overall, nanomaterial-mediated aPDT presents a highly promising and versatile solution to antimicrobial resistance. Future perspectives include the integration of artificial intelligence to personalize aPDT by predicting optimal light dosage and nanoplatform design based on patient-specific data, rigorous clinical validation through trials, and the development of safer, more efficient nanoparticle platforms.