A dissolvable microneedle patch co-delivering Zerumbone and ICG for combined chemo-photothermal therapy of melanoma.

ABSTRACT: Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer arising from melanocytes, noted for its high metastatic potential and elevated mortality rate. Conventional treatment approaches are often limited by nonspecific systemic drug distribution, which can result in undesirable adverse effects and premature drug degradation. In this study, we report the development of a microneedle (MN)-mediated delivery platform, incorporating self-assembling polymeric micelles, combining a dissolvable MN patch with polymeric micelles designed to prevent ICG aggregation and co-encapsulate ZER and ICG, and enable combined chemotherapy and photothermal therapy against melanoma. These nanocarriers, referred to as ZER-ICG-polymer micelles, co-encapsulate Zerumbone (ZER)-a lipophilic sesquiterpenoid-and indocyanine green

SUBMITTER: Zhu Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12855205 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature