Pioneering Astaxanthin-Tumor Cell Membrane Nanoparticles for Innovative Targeted Drug Delivery on Melanoma

Jui-Jen Chang; Yi-Chen Wang; Shu-Hui Yang; Ju-Yu Wu; Ming-Wei Chang; Hui-Min David Wang

doi:10.2147/IJN.S439476

Pioneering Astaxanthin-Tumor Cell Membrane Nanoparticles for Innovative Targeted Drug Delivery on Melanoma

Int J Nanomedicine. 2024 Mar 7:19:2395-2407. doi: 10.2147/IJN.S439476. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Jui-Jen Chang^#^{1

2}, Yi-Chen Wang^#^{3

4}, Shu-Hui Yang^{5

6}, Ju-Yu Wu⁷, Ming-Wei Chang⁸, Hui-Min David Wang^{5

9

10

11}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung, 40447, Taiwan.
² Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 40447, Taiwan.
³ Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital, Kaohsiung City, 802, Taiwan.
⁴ Institute of Medical Science and Technology, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, 807, Taiwan.
⁵ Graduate Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 402, Taiwan.
⁶ Bachelor Program of Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 402, Taiwan.
⁷ Doctoral Program in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 402, Taiwan.
⁸ Nanotechnology and Integrated Bioengineering Centre, University of Ulster, Belfast, BT15 1AB, Northern Ireland, UK.
⁹ Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 807, Taiwan.
¹⁰ Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, China Medical University, Taichung, 404, Taiwan.
¹¹ Center of Applied Nanomedicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Background: Recently, the use of the tumor or its secretions as drug carriers has gradually become popular, with the advantages of high biocompatibility and enhanced drug delivery to specific cells. Melanoma is the most malignant tumor of all skin cancers; it is the most metastatic and, therefore, the most difficult to treat. The main purpose of this study is to develop nanovesicles with tumor cell membrane secretion properties to encapsulate target substances to enhance the therapeutic effect of cancer.

Methods: Astaxanthin was selected as an anticancer drug due to our previous research finding that astaxanthin has extremely high antioxidant, anti-ultraviolet damage, and anti-tumor properties. The manufacturing method of the astaxanthin nanovesicle carrier is to mix melanoma cells and astaxanthin in an appropriate ratio and then remove the genetic material and inflammatory factors of cancer cells by extrusion.

Results: In terms of results, after the co-culture of astaxanthin nanovesicles and melanoma cancer cells, it was confirmed that the ability of astaxanthin nanovesicles to inhibit the growth and metastasis of melanoma cancer cells was significantly better than the same amount of astaxanthin alone, and it had no effect on normal Human cells are also effective. There was no apparent harm on normal cells, indicating the ability of the vesicles to be selectively transported.

Conclusion: Our findings illustrated the potential of astaxanthin nanovesicles as an anticancer drug.

Keywords: astaxanthin; melanoma; nanoparticle.

MeSH terms

Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacology
Cell Membrane
Humans
Melanoma* / drug therapy
Nanoparticles*
Xanthophylls

Substances

astaxanthine
Antineoplastic Agents
Xanthophylls

Grants and funding

This research was supported by National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan under grant nos. NSTC 111-2221-E-005-026-MY3, 111-2221-E-005-009, MOST 110-2221-E-039-002-MY3 and 110-2221-E-029-005. This work was also supported by Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital (KAFGH_D_112027).