Organic coordination nanoparticles for phototheranostics

Nanomedicines can integrate multiple functionalities to improve the efficacy of disease treatment with reduced off-target toxicity. However, challenges such as tedious synthesis, poor stability, lack of biodegradability, and toxicity have been encountered when developing drug carriers. Organic coordination nanoparticles that coordinate organic ligands and metal ions have emerged with a variety of putative advantages such as ease of preparation, stimulus-responsiveness and functional versatility. Metal-containing organic nanoparticles can be modified with dyes, photosensitizers, adjuvants, antigens, DNA and RNA for a variety of applications. This review provides a summary of organic coordination nanoparticles that were recently designed for diagnostic and treatment applications. Limitations, challenges, and prospects are discussed.