Topically applied liposome-in-hydrogels for systematically targeted tumor photothermal therapy

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Dermatology

Background:

• Transdermal drug delivery offers high patient compliance for anticancer therapy but faces challenges due to skin's physiological barriers limiting drug efficacy.
• Efficient delivery of therapeutic agents to tumors, including deep metastatic sites, remains a significant hurdle in developing effective topical anticancer treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate liposome-in-hydrogels loaded with IR780 (IR780/lipo/gels) as a novel topical formulation for targeted tumor photothermal therapy (PTT).
• To assess the efficacy and safety of topical IR780/lipo/gels for inhibiting tumor growth following laser irradiation.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of liposome-in-hydrogels encapsulating the photosensitizer IR780 for enhanced transdermal delivery.
• Topical application of the IR780/lipo/gels formulation on the skin overlying subcutaneous tumors or distant normal skin areas.
• Evaluation of photothermal antitumor activity and toxicity after laser irradiation of treated tumor sites.

Main Results:

• The IR780/lipo/gels formulation demonstrated effective delivery of IR780 to both subcutaneous tumors and deep metastatic sites.
• Topical administration of the hydrogels resulted in significant inhibition of tumor growth rate post-laser irradiation.
• No observable toxicity was associated with the topical application of the hydrogel formulation.

Conclusions:

• Topical administration of IR780/lipo/gels is a promising noninvasive strategy for targeted tumor photothermal therapy.
• This novel formulation overcomes skin barrier limitations, enabling effective drug delivery for enhanced anticancer treatment outcomes.
• The developed liposome-in-hydrogel system offers a safe and efficient approach for localized and potentially systemic anticancer therapy.