# 3D-Printed Microneedle Patch for the Treatment of Melanoma via Synergistic Chemotherapy and Photothermal Therapy

## TL;DR

A 3D-printed microneedle patch combines chemotherapy and heat therapy to treat melanoma, offering a noninvasive and effective approach.

## Contribution

A novel 3D-printed microneedle patch is developed for synergistic chemotherapy and photothermal therapy in melanoma treatment.

## Key findings

- The patch achieved 100% drug release within 96 hours and reached 46.3°C under near-infrared light.
- The patch significantly reduced A375 cancer cell viability while maintaining mechanical and degradation properties.
- The design offers a minimally invasive, patient-friendly approach for localized melanoma treatment.

## Abstract

Melanoma is a malignant type of skin cancer that originates
from
pigment-producing cells called melanocytes. Alongside its aggressive
trajectory, it is characterized by metastasis. The lack of targeting
ability and high toxicity in traditional chemotherapy, along with
issues such as the dermal barrier and patient compliance, necessitate
local and synergistic treatment approaches. Patches that are part
of transdermal drug delivery systems and use hydrogel microneedles
to deliver drugs noninvasively, locally, and synergistically, are
a recently emerging treatment alternative. In this study, we designed
a microneedle patch composed of microneedles produced by 3D digital
light processing, which were made of sodium alginate and GelMA. The
GelMA support base contained an anticancer drug (5-FU) and graphene
oxide quantum dots dispersed in a polyvinylpyrrolidone matrix. Quantum
dots conferred photothermal activity under near-infrared (808 nm)
light, whereas 5-FU provided the chemotherapy effect. The microneedle
had a height of 917.6 ± 47 μm, tip radius of 26.9 ±
0.4 μm, 5-FU burst release of 63 ± 0.665% within the first
hour, and 100% release within 96 h. It exhibited photothermal properties,
reaching 46.3 °C within 5 min under the effect of NIR. The patch
substantially reduced the viability of cancerous A375 cells, exhibiting
suitable mechanical properties for skin penetration, as well as swelling
and degradation properties for drug release. The findings suggest
that the minimally invasive microneedle platform, which enhances patient
compliance, could be a promising solution for melanoma treatment through
the synergistic use of chemotherapy and photothermal therapy.