Malignant cutaneous melanoma (MCM) is a type of neoplasm that accounts for over 75% of skin cancer deaths. Moh's surgery, a widely accepted surgical method for melanoma resection, has a high risk of cancer recurrence by the presence of microtumor residues. Photo- and thermo-responsive hydrogels, which can generate local hyperthermia under controlled light stimuli, appear as a promising approach for microtumor ablation. Similarly, photothermal therapies have been coupled with controlled drug release to promote an efficient and synergistic eradication of melanoma tumors. Here, we propose a novel near-infrared (NIR) light-responsive hydrogel based on a nanocomposite formed by methacryloyl-modified chitosan (ChiMA), methacryloyl-modified porcine small intestine submucosa (SISMA), and reduced graphene oxide (rGO). Moreover, the strategy includes the functionalization of rGO with a thermosensitive linker (V-50) and the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) for the combined chemo-photothermal ablation of MCM. First, we synthesized, functionalized, and formulated the SISMA/ChiMA hydrogel that best yielded the desired injectability, adhesion, and mechanical properties. Then, we synthesized rGO and functionalized it with DOX through the V-50 thermolinker. Parallelly, we designed, manufactured, and characterized a 0.5 W 808 nm NIR light source and standardized the irradiation conditions and dose for our application. The thermal and drug release profiles of the functionalized rGO-doped hydrogel were evaluated in the presence and absence of NIR stimulation. Preliminary results confirmed stimuli-directed heating and drug release of the composite under NIR irradiation. Future work will be focused on evaluating the therapy in melanoma spheroids to estimate the conditions to fully eliminate microtumors. Thus far, our results hold significant promise for the development of much more effective MCM post-surgical treatments.

Novel photo- and thermo- responsive composite hydrogels based on functionalized rGO and modified SIS/chitosan polymers for localized treatment of malignant cutaneous melanoma

ACS Fall 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.