Photothermal Release by Melanin-like Nanoparticles: Biomedical Applications
Melanin-like nanoparticles (NPs) exhibit a remarkable ability to absorb light across a wide range of wavelengths, from the ultraviolet (UV) to the near-infrared (NIR) spectrum. This characteristic enables them to serve as effective photothermal agents (PTAs). Upon irradiation, especially within the...
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| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Journal of Functional Biomaterials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/16/7/243 |
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| author | Arianna Menichetti Silvia Vicenzi Agata Pane Dario Mordini Fabrizio Mancin Marco Montalti |
| author_facet | Arianna Menichetti Silvia Vicenzi Agata Pane Dario Mordini Fabrizio Mancin Marco Montalti |
| author_sort | Arianna Menichetti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Melanin-like nanoparticles (NPs) exhibit a remarkable ability to absorb light across a wide range of wavelengths, from the ultraviolet (UV) to the near-infrared (NIR) spectrum. This characteristic enables them to serve as effective photothermal agents (PTAs). Upon irradiation, especially within the NIR window, a region where biological tissues are highly transparent, these NPs efficiently convert light energy into heat. This phenomenon, known as the photothermal effect, leads to localized temperature increases. The resulting heat can be strategically employed to induce selective cell death in photothermal therapy (PTT) or to enhance the release of therapeutic agents directly from the NPs. The inherent versatility of melanin-like NPs, stemming from their synthesis methods and the presence of various functional groups, allows for straightforward loading with drugs or other bioactive molecules. Consequently, they are attractive tools for photothermally activated release. This review paper thoroughly examines and critically discusses the latest applications of melanin-like NPs in photothermally controlled release. We dedicate a specific section to general mechanisms and approaches, and this paper concludes with an analysis of critical challenges and prospective future developments. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e379fd04040d419393cdc941d759fc79 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2079-4983 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Functional Biomaterials |
| spelling | doaj-art-e379fd04040d419393cdc941d759fc792025-08-20T03:36:21ZengMDPI AGJournal of Functional Biomaterials2079-49832025-07-0116724310.3390/jfb16070243Photothermal Release by Melanin-like Nanoparticles: Biomedical ApplicationsArianna Menichetti0Silvia Vicenzi1Agata Pane2Dario Mordini3Fabrizio Mancin4Marco Montalti5Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Chemical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, ItalyMelanin-like nanoparticles (NPs) exhibit a remarkable ability to absorb light across a wide range of wavelengths, from the ultraviolet (UV) to the near-infrared (NIR) spectrum. This characteristic enables them to serve as effective photothermal agents (PTAs). Upon irradiation, especially within the NIR window, a region where biological tissues are highly transparent, these NPs efficiently convert light energy into heat. This phenomenon, known as the photothermal effect, leads to localized temperature increases. The resulting heat can be strategically employed to induce selective cell death in photothermal therapy (PTT) or to enhance the release of therapeutic agents directly from the NPs. The inherent versatility of melanin-like NPs, stemming from their synthesis methods and the presence of various functional groups, allows for straightforward loading with drugs or other bioactive molecules. Consequently, they are attractive tools for photothermally activated release. This review paper thoroughly examines and critically discusses the latest applications of melanin-like NPs in photothermally controlled release. We dedicate a specific section to general mechanisms and approaches, and this paper concludes with an analysis of critical challenges and prospective future developments.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/16/7/243PTTPDTcontrolled releasedrug deliverynanomedicinesynergistic therapy |
| spellingShingle | Arianna Menichetti Silvia Vicenzi Agata Pane Dario Mordini Fabrizio Mancin Marco Montalti Photothermal Release by Melanin-like Nanoparticles: Biomedical Applications Journal of Functional Biomaterials PTT PDT controlled release drug delivery nanomedicine synergistic therapy |
| title | Photothermal Release by Melanin-like Nanoparticles: Biomedical Applications |
| title_full | Photothermal Release by Melanin-like Nanoparticles: Biomedical Applications |
| title_fullStr | Photothermal Release by Melanin-like Nanoparticles: Biomedical Applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Photothermal Release by Melanin-like Nanoparticles: Biomedical Applications |
| title_short | Photothermal Release by Melanin-like Nanoparticles: Biomedical Applications |
| title_sort | photothermal release by melanin like nanoparticles biomedical applications |
| topic | PTT PDT controlled release drug delivery nanomedicine synergistic therapy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/16/7/243 |
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