Anticancer Potential of Novel Nanoemulgel Formulations in Melanoma

Abstract

Melanoma is classified as one of the most common cancers with an increasing incidence rate and the conventional treatment options that come with undesirable effects decrease the life quality of patients. Herein, as an alternative therapy option for systemic administration, Carbopol-based nanoemulgel formulations for local delivery were designed. Topical drug delivery systems containing Oxaliplatin, a cisplatin derivative anticancer drug used in the treatment of colorectal cancers, were evaluated for their potential for melanoma treatment. Nanoemulgel formulations with particle size under 300 nm were prepared and characterized in terms of droplet size, zeta potential and liquid crystal formation. The viscosity, as a critical attribute for topical drug delivery systems, was also evaluated, and pseudoplastic behavior of these novel drug delivery systems were confirmed. The controlled drug release pattern was shown with in vitro drug release studies with a significant difference from oxaliplatin when applied in solution. In vitro cell viability evaluation with L929 mouse fibroblast cell line confirmed the biocompatibility of prepared formulations, and the anticancer effect of novel nanoemulgel formulations were presented in B16-F10 mouse melanoma cell line. In conclusion, the anticancer potential of Oxaliplatin nanoemulgels were shown in vitro as a therapy option for melanoma, and the advantages of emulsion and gel-based drug delivery systems were combined in a nanotechnology platform for effective and patient-friendly application of an anticancer therapy for melanoma.