Cubosomes-assisted transdermal delivery of doxorubicin and indocyanine green for chemo-photothermal combination therapy of melanoma

• Published in: Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy Vol. 166; p. 115316
• Main Authors: Chen, Zhenzhen, Huang, Qinbiao, Song, Yutong, Feng, Xianquan, Zeng, Lingjun, Liu, Zhihong, Hu, Xiaomu, Tao, Chun, Wang, Lie, Qi, Yafeng, Song, Hongtao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France Elsevier Masson SAS 01.10.2023; Elsevier
• Subjects: Chemo-photothermal combination therapy; Cubosomes; Doxorubicin; Indocyanine green; Melanoma; Transdermal delivery; Transdermal delivery; Indocyanine green; Doxorubicin; Chemo-photothermal combination therapy; Cubosomes; Melanoma
• ISSN: 0753-3322; 1950-6007
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115316

Melanoma is a highly aggressive form of skin cancer with limited therapeutic options. Chemo-photothermal combination therapy has demonstrated potential for effectively treating melanoma, and transdermal administration is considered the optimal route for treating skin diseases due to its ability to bypass first-pass metabolism and enhance drug concentration. However, the stratum corneum presents a formidable challenge as a significant barrier to drug penetration in transdermal drug delivery. Lipid-nanocarriers, particularly cubosomes, have been demonstrated to possess significant potential in augmenting drug permeation across the stratum corneum. Herein, cubosomes co-loaded with doxorubicin (DOX, a chemotherapeutic drug) and indocyanine green (ICG, a photothermal agent) (DOX-ICG-cubo) transdermal drug delivery system was developed to enhance the therapeutic efficiency of melanoma by improving drug permeation. The DOX-ICG-cubo showed high encapsulation efficiency of both DOX and ICG, and exhibited good stability under physiological conditions. In addition, the unique cubic structure of the DOX-ICG-cubo was confirmed through transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images, polarizing microscopy, and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The DOX-ICG-cubo presented high photothermal conversion efficiency, as well as pH and thermo-responsive DOX release. Notably, the DOX-ICG-cubo exhibited enhanced drug permeation efficiency, good biocompatibility, and improved in vivo anti-melanoma efficacy through the synergistic effects of chemo-photothermal therapy. In conclusion, DOX-ICG-cubo presented a promising strategy for melanoma treatment. [Display omitted] •Cubosomes demonstrated as a promising nano-carriers in transdermal therapy.•Cubosomes are able to enhanced the photothermal effect of ICG.•Topical application of combination therapy showed effective for melanoma treatment.