Melanin-loaded biocompatible photosensitive nanoparticles for controlled drug release in combined photothermal-chemotherapy guided by photoacoustic/ultrasound dual-modality imaging

Combined photothermal-chemotherapy guided by multimodal imaging is a promising strategy for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Multifunctional nanoparticles, such as those comprising organic and inorganic compounds, have been extensively investigated for combined photothermal-chemotherapy; however, their application is still limited by their potential long-term toxicity and lack of contrast properties. To solve these problems, in this study, a new type of multifunctional nanoparticle for combined photothermal-chemotherapy guided by dual-modality imaging was prepared with endogenous melanin by multistep emulsification to enhance tumor ablation. The nanoparticles were coated with poly(lactide-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and loaded with paclitaxel (PTX), encapsulated melanin and perfluoropentane (PFP). The materials in the nanoparticles were endogenous, ensuring high stability, biocompatibility, and biosafety. Nanoparticles irradiated with a laser, which induced their phase transformation into microbubbles, exhibited high photothermal conversion efficiency, thereby achieving photoacoustic (PA)/ultrasound (US) dual-modality imaging to determine tumor location, boundary, and size and to monitor drug distribution. Furthermore, optical droplet vaporization (ODV) of the nanoparticles could trigger the release of PTX; thus, these nanoparticles are a useful drug carrier. In vivo and in vitro experiments revealed that a strong synergistic antitumor effect was achieved by combining the photothermal properties of the nanoparticles with a chemotherapy drug. Importantly, the cavitation, thermoelastic expansion, and sonoporation caused by the phase transformation of the nanoparticles could directly damage the tumors. These processes also promoted the release, penetration and absorption of the drug, further enhancing the effect of combined photothermal-chemotherapy on tumor suppression. Therefore, the multifunctional nanoparticles prepared in this study provide a new strategy of using endogenous materials for controlled near-infrared (NIR)-responsive drug release and combined photothermal-chemotherapy guided by multimodal imaging.