Thermohydrogel Containing Melanin for Photothermal Cancer Therapy

Melanin is an effective absorber of light and can extend to near infrared (NIR) regions. In this study, a natural melanin is presented as a photothermal therapeutic agent (PTA) because it provides a good photothermal conversion efficiency, shows biodegradability, and does not induce long-term toxicity during retention in vivo. Poloxamer solution containing melanin (Pol–Mel) does not show any precipitation and shows sol–gel transition at body temperature. After irradiation from 808 nm NIR laser at 1.5 W cm⁻² for 3 min, the photothermal conversion efficiency of Pol–Mel is enough to kill cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. The tumor growth of mice bearing CT26 tumors treated with Pol–Mel injection and laser irradiation is suppressed completely without recurrence postirradiation. All these results indicate that Pol–Mel can become an attractive PTA for photothermal cancer therapy. (Figure presented.).