Nanocarriers for Photodynamic Therapy Intended to Cutaneous Tumors.

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is a therapeutic modality used for several malignant and premalignant skin disor-ders, including Bowen's disease skin cancers and Superficial Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC). Several photosensitizers (PSs) have been explored for tumor destruction of skin cancers, after their activation by a light source of appropriate wavelength. Topical release of PSs avoids prolonged photosensitization reactions associated with systemic administration; however, its clinical usefulness is influenced by its poor tissue penetration and the stability of the active agent. Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems are promising tool to enhance the efficiency for PDT of cancer. This review focuses on PSs encap-sulated in nanocarriers explored for PDT of skin tumors.