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Updated: Aug 9, 2025
Near Infrared Photoimmunotherapy for Mouse Models of Pleural Dissemination
Published on: February 9, 2021
NIR light-activatable dissolving microneedle system for melanoma ablation enabled by a combination of ROS-responsive
Fan Liu1, Zeneng Cheng2, Hanxi Yi3,4
1Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
Background:
As a consequence of the aggressive and recurrent nature of melanoma, repeated, multimodal treatments are often necessary to cure the disease. While microneedle (MN)-based transdermal drug delivery methods can allow drugs to avoid first-pass metabolism and overcome the stratum corneum barrier, the main challenges of these delivery methods entail the lack of controlled drug release/activation and effective imaging methods to guide the entire treatment process.
Methods:
To enable a transdermal delivery method with controllable drug release/activation and effective imaging guidance, we designed a near-infrared (NIR) photoactivatable, dissolving MN system comprising dissolvable polyvinylpyrrolidone MNs arrays (MN-pB/I) containing liposomes that were co-loaded with the photosensitizer indocyanine green (ICG) and the reactive oxygen species (ROS)-activatable prodrug of doxorubicin (pB-DOX).
Results:
After applying the MN patch to the tumor site, the liposomes concentrated in the needle tips were released into the tumor tissue and distributed evenly upon dissolution of the matrix to enable targeted delivery. Then, the ROS produced by ICG after exposure to NIR light performed photodynamic therapy and activated the pB-DOX for chemotherapy by cleaving the prodrug moiety and converting it to DOX. As a dye, ICG was also used to guide the treatment regimens and monitor the efficacy by fluorescence and photoacoustic imaging. The growth of the tumors in the MN-pB/I group were inhibited by 93.5%, while those were only partially inhibited in the control groups. Negligible treatment-induced side effects and cardiotoxicity were observed.
Conclusion:
The MN-pB/I represents a multimodal, biocompatible theragnostic system with spatiotemporal control that was capable of ablating melanoma tumors after a single dose, providing a promising candidate for clinical melanoma therapy.
Insights
This study introduces a novel microneedle system for melanoma treatment, combining photodynamic and chemotherapy for effective tumor ablation with minimal side effects. The system offers controlled drug delivery and imaging guidance for enhanced therapeutic outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Oncology
Background:
- Melanoma's aggressive nature necessitates multimodal treatments.
- Microneedle (MN)-based delivery offers advantages but lacks controlled release and imaging guidance.
- Existing methods face challenges in controlled drug activation and real-time treatment monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a microneedle system for controlled transdermal drug delivery and imaging-guided melanoma treatment.
- To integrate photodynamic therapy and chemotherapy for enhanced anti-cancer efficacy.
- To overcome limitations of current microneedle technologies in drug release and activation.
Main Methods:
- Designed a dissolving microneedle (MN) system (MN-pB/I) with liposomes co-loaded with indocyanine green (ICG) and a doxorubicin prodrug (pB-DOX).
- Utilized near-infrared (NIR) light to activate ICG for photodynamic therapy and pB-DOX for chemotherapy.
- Employed ICG's fluorescence and photoacoustic properties for treatment guidance and efficacy monitoring.
Main Results:
- The MN-pB/I system achieved targeted delivery and controlled release of drugs upon MN dissolution.
- NIR light activated ICG to generate ROS, initiating photodynamic therapy and chemotherapy via DOX release.
- Tumor growth was inhibited by 93.5% in the MN-pB/I group, with negligible side effects and cardiotoxicity.
- ICG served as an effective imaging agent for guiding treatment and monitoring efficacy.
Conclusions:
- The developed MN-pB/I system is a biocompatible, multimodal theragnostic platform for melanoma.
- It offers spatiotemporal control over drug release and activation, enabling tumor ablation with a single dose.
- This system shows significant promise for clinical applications in melanoma therapy.
