Perspectives on the application of nanotechnology in photodynamic therapy for the treatment of melanoma

Abstract

Malignant melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer and has been traditionally considered difficult to treat. The worldwide incidence of melanoma has been increasing faster than any other type of cancer. Early detection, surgery, and adjuvant therapy enable improved outcomes; nonetheless, the prognosis of metastatic melanoma remains poor. Several therapies have been investigated for the treatment of melanoma; however, current treatment options for patients with metastatic disease are limited and non-curative in the majority of cases. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been proposed as a promising minimally invasive therapeutic procedure that employs three essential elements to induce cell death: a photosensitizer, light of a specific wavelength, and molecular oxygen. However, classical PDT has shown some drawbacks that limit its clinical application. In view of this, the use of nanotechnology has been considered since it provides many tools that can be applied to PDT to circumvent these limitations and bring new perspectives for the application of this therapy for different types of diseases. On that ground, this review focuses on the potential use of developing nanotechnologies able to bring significant benefits for anticancer PDT, aiming to reach higher efficacy and safety for patients with malignant melanoma.

Plasma membrane activatable polymeric nanotheranostics with self-enhanced light-triggered photosensitizer cellular influx for photodynamic cancer therapy

“…It has been applied to destruct selected tumors with clinical approval and several studies have confirmed that PDT is a feasible therapeutic option against early-stage cancer and co-therapeutic approach in late-stage cancer [4]. Typically, PDT involves a photosensitizer (PS), which can transfer energy to surrounding molecular oxygen to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), primarily singlet oxygen ( 1 O 2 ), which can consequently induce cell apoptosis or necrosis and tissue destruction [5].…”

Recent developments in hyaluronic acid-based nanomedicine for targeted cancer treatment

“…[73][74][75][76] Over the last decade, numerous nanoparticles have been developed for the in vivo tumor-targeted delivery of imaging agents or drugs. [77][78][79][80] We developed self-assembled HANPs that can be used as the tumor-targeted delivery system of photosensitizers for both photodynamic imaging and photodynamic therapy. [10] Because photosensitizers can simultaneously generate fluorescence for imaging and singlet oxygen for treatment upon irradiation, it may be useful as a theranostic system for combined diagnosis and therapy.…”

Magnetic and pH dual-responsive mesoporous silica nanocomposites for effective and low-toxic photodynamic therapy

“…[1][2][3][4] In recent years, PDT has achieved rapid progress both in fundamental research [5][6][7][8] and clinic practice, [9][10][11] which makes it become the fourth minimal invasive therapy for cancer treatment following surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. 12 PDT is based on the principle that light-activated photosensitizer can produce lethal cytotoxic active singlet oxygen ( 1 O 2 ) and other reactive oxygen species (ROS) to damage tumors and their surrounding vasculature when the tumor tissues uptaking the photosensitizer are irradiated with a specific wavelength light in the presence of tissue oxygen.…”