The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

This presentation introduces hyaluronic acid (HA)–based upconversion nanotechnologies as biocompatible polymer-integrated platforms for transdermal photomedicine, antibacterial therapy, and targeted cancer treatment. Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) convert near-infrared light into visible emissions, enabling deep tissue penetration with reduced phototoxicity, while their integration into multifunctional polymer systems remains challenging. To address this limitation, HA-functionalized upconversion platforms are developed. A cold-responsive HA-functionalized UCNP system enables transdermal cryo-photodynamic therapy, achieving enhanced tumor-selective luminescence and 79% inhibition of melanoma growth in vivo, while inducing light-triggered antibacterial activity via reactive oxygen species. These studies highlight the potential of HA-based polymer–upconversion platforms for cancer therapy, infection control, and skin-related biomedical applications.