Investigating silver nanoparticles and resiquimod as a local melanoma treatment

[Display omitted] Over the last decade, the potential for silver nanoparticles (AgNP) to be used as an anti-melanoma agent has been supported by both in vitro and in vivo evidence. However, an undesirably high concentration of AgNP is often required to achieve an antitumor effect. Therefore a combin...

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Published in:European journal of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics 2023-02, Vol.183, p.1-12
Main Authors: Tambunlertchai, Supreeda, Geary, Sean M., Naguib, Youssef W., Salem, Aliasger K.
Format: Article
Language:eng
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Summary:[Display omitted] Over the last decade, the potential for silver nanoparticles (AgNP) to be used as an anti-melanoma agent has been supported by both in vitro and in vivo evidence. However, an undesirably high concentration of AgNP is often required to achieve an antitumor effect. Therefore a combination treatment that can maintain or improve antitumor efficacy (with lower amounts of AgNP) while also reducing off-target effects is sought. In this study, the combination of AgNP and resiquimod (RSQ: a Toll-like receptor agonist) was investigated and shown to significantly prolong the survival of melanoma-challenged mice when added sequentially. Results from toxicity studies showed that the treatment was non-toxic in mice. Immune cell depletion studies suggested the possible involvement of CD8+ T cells in the antitumor response observed in the AgNP + RSQ (sequential) treatment. NanoString was also employed to further understand the mechanism underlying the increase in the treatment efficacy of AgNP + RSQ (sequential); showing significant changes, compared to the naive group, in gene expression in pathways involved in apoptosis and immune stimulation. In conclusion, the combination of AgNP and RSQ is a new combination worthy of further investigation in the context of melanoma treatment.
ISSN:0939-6411
1873-3441