| 초록 |
Photothermal therapeutic agents (PTAs) are used to help convert light to heat because of the low conversion efficiency of light energy into heat in living tissues. Melanin absorbs a large range of light from ultraviolet to near infrared (NIR) wavelengths. This presentation will discuss our recent approaches to melanin as a PTA for photothermal cancer therapy. First, we have prepared thermohydrogels containing melanin, showing sol-gel transition at body temperature. Secondly, we have prepared melanin-loaded liposomes for systemic injection. After irradiation of 808 nm NIR laser at 1.5 W/cm2 for 3 min, heat generation was enough to kill cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. The tumor growth of mice bearing CT26 tumors treated with the thermohydrogel or the liposomes is suppressed completely after laser irradiation. These results indicate that melanin can become an attractive PTA for photothermal cancer therapy. |
