Synergistic photodynamic and photothermal therapy with biomaterials for accelerated wound healing

Wound treatments have attracted significant attention, especially regarding bacterial proliferation, the emergence of drug resistance, and persistent inflammation. Conventional wound therapies often exhibit limited efficacy, and inappropriate treatment strategies further hinder effective tissue repair. Light-mediated therapeutic approaches, including photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT), have emerged as promising alternatives. However, PDT is frequently constrained by insufficient photosensitizer penetration into the wound microenvironment and low energy utilization efficiency. In contrast, PTT suffers from poor control over photothermal agents, potentially leading to collateral thermal damage to healthy tissues. To address these limitations, integrating PDT or PTT with biomaterials has attracted increasing attention. Accordingly, recent advances in biomaterial-assisted PDT and PTT strategies for wound healing are systematically summarized. A critical analysis is then provided to elucidate how biomaterials enhance therapeutic performance by improving agent delivery, modulating the wound microenvironment, and reducing off-target effects, while also addressing the remaining challenges and limitations of these combined approaches. Finally, the innovative role of biomaterials in optimizing light-mediated wound therapies is highlighted, providing a comprehensive reference for the rational design of multifunctional therapeutic platforms and facilitating the translational development of advanced wound management strategies.