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Updated: Jan 5, 2026
Author Spotlight: Advancing Bioimaging and Therapy with Functional Nanomaterials
Published on: September 13, 2024
Current Progresses of Functional Nanomaterials for Imaging Diagnosis and Treatment of Melanoma
Congcong Zhu1, Yunjie Zhu2, Huijun Pan1
1Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Dermatology Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200443, China.
Abstract:
Melanoma is a malignant skin tumor that results in poor disease prognosis due to unsuccessful treatment options. During the early stages of tumor progression, surgery is the primary approach that assures a good outcome. However, in the presence of metastasis, melanoma hasbecome almost immedicable, since the tumors can not be removed and the disease recurs easily in a short period of time. However, in recent years, the combination of nanomedicine and chemotherapeutic drugs has offered promising solutions to the treatment of late-stage melanoma. Extensive studies have demonstrated that nanomaterials and their advanced applications can improve the efficacy of traditional chemotherapeutic drugs in order to overcome the disadvantages, such as drug resistance, low drug delivery rate and reduced targeting to the tumor tissue. In the present review, we summarized the latest progress in imaging diagnosis and treatment of melanoma using functional nanomaterials, including polymers, liposomes, metal nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles and carbon-based nanoparticles. These nanoparticles are reported widely in melanoma chemotherapy, gene therapy, immunotherapy, photodynamic therapy, and hyperthermia.
Insights
Functional nanomaterials offer new hope for treating advanced melanoma by enhancing chemotherapy efficacy and targeting. This review explores their use in imaging, chemotherapy, gene therapy, immunotherapy, and hyperthermia for better melanoma treatment outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Nanomedicine
- Materials Science
Background:
- Melanoma presents a poor prognosis, especially in metastatic stages, due to limited treatment options.
- Traditional chemotherapy faces challenges like drug resistance and poor targeting in melanoma treatment.
- Nanomedicine combined with chemotherapy shows promise for overcoming these limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the latest advancements in melanoma diagnosis and treatment using functional nanomaterials.
- To highlight the role of various nanoparticles in improving melanoma therapeutic strategies.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent scientific literature on nanomaterials in melanoma research.
- Categorization of nanomaterials including polymers, liposomes, metal, magnetic, and carbon-based nanoparticles.
- Analysis of nanoparticle applications in chemotherapy, gene therapy, immunotherapy, photodynamic therapy, and hyperthermia.
Main Results:
- Functional nanomaterials enhance the efficacy of traditional chemotherapeutic drugs.
- Nanoparticles improve drug delivery rates and tumor targeting in melanoma.
- Diverse nanomaterials are utilized across various therapeutic modalities for melanoma.
Conclusions:
- Functional nanomaterials represent a significant advancement in melanoma imaging and treatment.
- Nanoparticle-based approaches offer improved outcomes for late-stage melanoma.
- Further research into nanomedicine holds potential for revolutionizing melanoma care.
