New MoS2/Tegafur-Containing Pharmaceutical Formulations for Selective LED-Based Skin Cancer Photo-Chemotherapy
Miguel T Campos1,2,3,4, Filipa A L S Silva1,2,3,4, José Ramiro Fernandes5,6
1LEPABE, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
Pharmaceutics
|March 28, 2024
Summary
This study introduces a novel combined photothermal and chemotherapy treatment for non-melanoma skin cancer using molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanosheets and Tegafur in a hydrogel. The treatment effectively reduced cancer cell viability while sparing healthy cells.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Oncology
Background:
- Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) incidence and recurrence rates are increasing globally.
- Conventional NMSC treatments (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery) have limitations including invasiveness and toxicity.
- There is a critical need for advanced, selective, and less toxic therapeutic strategies for NMSC.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a novel combined photothermal and chemotherapeutic approach for NMSC treatment.
- To investigate the efficacy of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanosheets as a photothermal agent and Tegafur as a chemotherapeutic agent.
- To assess the synergistic effect of MoS2 and Tegafur delivered via a Carbopol hydrogel under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation.
Main Methods:
- MoS2 nanosheets were synthesized using liquid-phase exfoliation and intercalation with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), followed by ultrasonication.
- The photothermal conversion efficiency of MoS2 nanosheets was confirmed via NIR irradiation (810 nm, 0.1 W/cm²).
- Optimized concentrations of MoS2 (125 µg/mL) and Tegafur (50 µg/mL) were incorporated into a Carbopol hydrogel for in vitro testing on HFF-1 (normal fibroblasts) and A-431 (skin cancer) cells.
Main Results:
- MoS2 nanosheets efficiently converted NIR light into heat, reaching 52 °C.
- In vitro studies showed MoS2 + Tegafur hydrogels significantly reduced metabolic activity in A-431 cancer cells (28% viability) compared to normal HFF-1 cells (78% viability).
- A 1.9-fold greater decrease in cancer cell metabolic activity was observed with the combined MoS2 + Tegafur treatment compared to MoS2 alone, 72 hours post-irradiation, indicating synergistic efficacy.
Conclusions:
- The developed MoS2-Tegafur Carbopol hydrogel system demonstrates significant potential as a combined photothermal and chemotherapeutic agent for NMSC.
- The localized heat generation by MoS2 and the chemotherapeutic action of Tegafur work synergistically to enhance cancer cell death.
- This approach offers a promising, selective, and potentially less toxic alternative to conventional NMSC treatments.
