Innovative Photothermal Nanomaterials for Combating Melanoma

Abstract

Melanoma is the wildest form of skin cancer with high morbidity across the world that relates to the pigment-producing cells known as melanocytes. The main reason for melanoma is ultraviolet (UV) light exposure. The probability of reoccurrence of melanoma and the risk of metastasis to the other parts of the body depends on its thickness, the rate of cell dividing, the time of diagnosis, and the type of medical treatment. So far, different medical approaches have been used to treat melanoma include; surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, photodynamic and photothermal therapy, electrochemical approaches, and oncolytic virus therapy. Photothermal therapy is the conversion of light energy (near-infrared radiation) to thermal energy by various photothermal agents, which produce heat and can damage or eradicate the cancerous cells due to the sensitivity of tumor cells to heat and disruption of the activity of tumor cells in the presence of heat. The aim of the current study was to review the photothermal therapy potential and different photothermal agents with their pros and cons for the treatment of melanoma.