ABSTRACT
Photothermal therapy, as a new non-invasive therapy technique, has been developing rapidly since 1980s, especially in tumor therapy. Compared with traditional therapy, it has demonstrated irreplaceable effects. At present, the materials used for photothermal therapy are mainly various nanoparticles as well as various nanocomposites designed based on it. Because some nanocomposites have integrated the properties of photothermal therapeutic agents and imaging contrast agents, they have played an important role in the integrated study of tumor diagnosis and treatment. Based on the physical and chemical properties, optical properties, advantages and disadvantages of the four kinds of nano-therapeutic agents in the study of photothermal therapy, this paper reviews the progress of the experimental research on the integration of the four kinds of nano-photothermal agents in tumor diagnosis and treatment in recent years.