Melanoma Cancer Therapy Using PEGylated Nanoparticles and Semiconductor Laser

Photothermal therapy (PTT) is a procedure that converts laser beam energy to heat so can disturb tumor cells. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have unique properties in absorption optical energy and could change optical power into heat in PTT procedures. Additionally, titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles (NPs) have a unique feature in absorbing and scattering light. Therefore, these mentioned NPs could play a synergistic role in the PTT method. CNTs and TiO₂ NPs were injected into the melanoma tumor sites of cancerous mice. Then sites were excited using the laser beam (λ = 808 nm, P = 2 W, and I = 4 W/cm²). Injected NPs caused hyperthermia in solid tumors. Tumor size assay, statistical analysis, and histopathological study of the treated cases were performed to assess the role of mentioned NPs in PTT of murine melanoma cancer. The results showed that CNTs performed better than TiO₂ NPs in destroying murine melanoma cancer cells in animals. The present study compared the photothermal activity of excited CNTs and TiO₂ NPs in cancer therapy at the near-infrared spectrum of light. Tumors were destroyed selectively because of their weakened heat resistance versus normal tissue. PTT of malignant melanoma through CNTs caused remarkable necrosis into the tumor tissues versus TiO₂ NPs.