Oxygen-deficient molybdenum oxide for photodynamic therapy and multimodal cancer treatment

Abstract

Cancer remains a major challenge in clinical treatment, and related therapeutic strategies are continuously evolving. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising tumor treatment modality that induces tumor cell death through reactive oxygen species generated upon the light activation of photosensitizers. Oxygen-deficient molybdenum oxide (MoO_x) stands out among numerous inorganic nanomaterials due to its unique oxygen-deficient structure, which endows it with stronger adsorption and activation capabilities toward molecules such as O₂ and H₂O. This paper systematically reviews the physicochemical properties, synthesis methods, surface functional modification, and application progress of oxygen-deficient molybdenum oxide in PDT and multimodal combination therapy. It also evaluates the biocompatibility and biosafety of the materials, and discusses the current challenges and future development directions in combination with the trends of artificial intelligence-aided design, imaging diagnosis, and personalized therapy. This review aims to provide a reference for the research and development and clinical translation of oxygen-deficient molybdenum oxide-based nanophotosensitizers.

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Keywords

oxygen-deficient molybdenum oxide / photodynamic therapy / nanozyme / oxygen vacancy / multimodal combination therapy / tumor microenvironment

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