A Dual-Agent Nanoparticle Platform with NIR-Responsive Modulation for Melanoma Therapy

Presenter: Marcia Silva Cardoso

Faculty Sponsor: Milana Vasudev

School: UMass Dartmouth

Research Area: Biomedical Engineering

Session: Poster Session 3, 1:15 PM - 2:00 PM, Auditorium, A22

ABSTRACT

Melanoma continues to pose significant therapeutic challenges, including but not limited to pharmacologic resistance and immune evasion, highlighting the need for delivery systems that enable both precise drug administration and externally tunable therapeutic control. In this work, we report the development of a dual-agent lipid–polymer hybrid nanoparticle platform designed to integrate combinatorial drug delivery with near-infrared (NIR)–responsive modulation. Unlike conventional nanoparticle systems that rely solely on passive delivery, this platform enables externally triggered modulation of therapeutic response through NIR exposure. The nanoparticles were engineered using a poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) core and a stabilizing lipid shell, providing enhanced formulation robustness and physicochemical uniformity. Particle characterization confirmed a narrow size distribution and a favorable surface charge profile suitable for cellular interaction. The biological performance of the nanoparticle system was evaluated in melanoma stem cell cultures using an alamarBlue viability assay under NIR and non-NIR conditions. The dual-agent nanoparticle formulation produced a reproducible reduction in cell viability relative to control groups, with NIR stimulation further amplifying the observed effect. Together, these findings introduce a modular nanotherapeutic strategy that couples multi-agent delivery with external NIR activation, establishing a flexible framework for melanoma therapy with enhanced control over therapeutic response and future translational optimization. 

RELATED ABSTRACTS