Thermoelectric and pyroelectric cancer therapy

Abstract

Among various studies on cancer treatment, two approaches have been actively researched and have recently garnered attention. One approach involves selectively targeting tumor cells using reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the second approach utilizes heat. Very recently, there has been a focus on methods that combine the use of heat sources and the production of ROS, using thermal energy to generate charges in materials and utilizing the ROS method. Notably, the representative methods of generating charges using thermal energy are thermoelectric and pyroelectric. This review explores the emerging role of thermoelectric and pyroelectric materials in advanced cancer therapy. We examine their fundamental mechanisms, including their ability to generate electric fields and thermal gradients in response to external stimuli. Our analysis highlights innovative cancer therapies that combine these materials' properties with phototherapy for precise control of ROS generation. This approach offers new insights into multi-modal cancer therapy strategies and their potential clinical applications.