Artesunate nanoliposome-hydrogel - a dual-modal therapy for post-surgical melanoma

Sep 28, 2026

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Melanoma management demands both suppression of tumor recurrence and restoration of post-surgical wound healing, yet high recurrence rates and therapy resistance hinder current approaches. Artesunate (ARS) offers anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and regenerative potential, but its mechanisms and clinical translation are constrained by incomplete characterization and suboptimal pharmacokinetics. Using RNA-seq, the study maps ARS-regulated pathways and builds an amphiphilic nanoliposome and carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogel system for sustained release and tissue regeneration.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages19

Reading Time48 min

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Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Introduction

Theranostics 2026, Vol. 16, Issue 2 580 Ivyspring International Publisher Theranostics 2026; 16(2): 580-598. doi: 10.7150/thno.120793 Research Paper Artesunate nanoliposome-hydrogel: a dual-modal therapy for post-surgical melanoma Hongmei Chen1, 2, 3, Zhongke Wang1, 2, 3, Ying Huang1, 2, 3, Aodi Li1, 2, 3, Xinlei Xiong1, 2, 3, Yifan Pu1, 2, 3, Ling Guo1, 2, 3􀀍 1. School of Stomatology, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China. 2. Luzhou Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Luzhou, China. 3. Department of Prosthodontics, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China. 􀀍 Corresponding author: E-mail: [glsmiling@swmu.edu.cn](glsmiling@swmu.edu.cn). © The author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)). See [https://ivyspring.com/terms](https://ivyspring.com/terms) for full terms and conditions. Received: 2025.07.02; Accepted: 2025.08.22; Published: 2026.01.01 Abstract | Background: Melanoma management faces the dual challenge of preventing tumor recurrence while ensuring optimal post-surgical wound healing, particularly problematic given melanoma's high recurrence rates and therapeutic resistance. Artesunate (ARS) emerges as a promising multimodal agent with concurrent anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and tissue-regenerative properties. However, its anti-melanoma mechanisms remain incompletely characterized, and clinical translation has been limited by suboptimal pharmacokinetics.
Methods: We employed transcriptomic profiling (RNA-seq) to identify novel ARS-regulated pathways. Subsequently, we developed an optimized drug delivery system comprising: amphiphilic nanoliposomes for efficient ARS encapsulation and enhanced cellular internalization, and a carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogel matrix (ARS-LS-Gel) engineered to provide sustained drug release while promoting tissue regeneration. Comprehensive physicochemical characterization preceded systematic in vitro evaluation in melanoma (B16F10, A375) and normal cell models, assessing cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, and mechanistic pathways. Dual efficacy was quantified in vivo using syngeneic melanoma and full-thickness wound healing models.
Results: The ARS-LS-Gel system demonstrated optimal physicochemical characteristics, including well-dispersed particles, sustained drug release kinetics and exceptional biocompatibility. It potently induced melanoma cell apoptosis through p53-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction, characterized by: (1) sustained ROS accumulation, (2) cytochrome C release, (3) mitochondrial membrane potential collapse, (4) impaired ATP synthesis, and (5) calcium overload. In vivo, the platform significantly suppressed tumor progression, evidenced by enhanced apoptosis and reduced Ki-67 expression. Concurrently, it accelerated wound regeneration via targeted downregulation of pro-inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-1β) and enhanced collagen deposition. Conclusion: The ARS-LS-Gel platform’s ability to simultaneously address oncogenic progression and tissue repair represents a significant conceptual and practical advancement in post-surgical cancer management. By bridging fundamental mechanistic discovery with engineered therapeutic delivery, our findings provide a robust foundation for imminent translational development in melanoma therapy and beyond. | | | --- | --- | | Keywords: Melanoma, Post-surgical recurrence, Wound regeneration, Artesunate, Mitochondrial apoptosis
Introduction | | | Melanoma is a highly aggressive tumor arising from melanocytes in cutaneous and extracutaneous tissues, and has shown increasing incidence among younger populations in recent years [1] . The diagnostic challenge posed by its morphological similarity to common moles and benign lesions leads to delayed diagnosis, with m

FAQs

What problem does the study target in melanoma care?

It addresses preventing tumor recurrence while promoting optimal post-surgical wound healing, which is difficult due to high recurrence rates and therapeutic resistance.

How is the ARS delivery system designed?

The system combines amphiphilic nanoliposomes to encapsulate ARS and enhance cellular uptake with a carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogel matrix engineered for sustained drug release and tissue regeneration.

What key mechanism of melanoma cell killing is reported?

The ARS-LS-Gel induces apoptosis through p53-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction, including sustained ROS accumulation, cytochrome C release, mitochondrial membrane potential collapse, impaired ATP synthesis, and calcium overload.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Himbo