Thermohydrogel Containing Melanin for Photothermal Cancer Therapy

Macromol Biosci. 2017 May;17(5). doi: 10.1002/mabi.201600371. Epub 2016 Dec 1.

Abstract

Melanin is an effective absorber of light and can extend to near infrared (NIR) regions. In this study, a natural melanin is presented as a photothermal therapeutic agent (PTA) because it provides a good photothermal conversion efficiency, shows biodegradability, and does not induce long-term toxicity during retention in vivo. Poloxamer solution containing melanin (Pol-Mel) does not show any precipitation and shows sol-gel transition at body temperature. After irradiation from 808 nm NIR laser at 1.5 W cm-2 for 3 min, the photothermal conversion efficiency of Pol-Mel is enough to kill cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. The tumor growth of mice bearing CT26 tumors treated with Pol-Mel injection and laser irradiation is suppressed completely without recurrence postirradiation. All these results indicate that Pol-Mel can become an attractive PTA for photothermal cancer therapy.

Keywords: cancer therapy; melanin; photothermal therapy; poloxamer; thermohydrogel.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Humans
  • Hydrogels / chemistry*
  • Hyperthermia, Induced / methods*
  • Infrared Rays
  • Male
  • Melanins / administration & dosage
  • Melanins / chemistry
  • Melanins / therapeutic use*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Phototherapy / methods*
  • Poloxamer
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Hydrogels
  • Melanins
  • Poloxamer