Photodynamic therapy of pigmented melanoma B16 using sterically stabilizedfullerenosomes

Novel multifunctional approach to the therapy of very virulent pigmented melanoma B16 tumor is proposed based on exploitation of fullerenosomes, nanostructures build from sterically stabilized liposomes with incorporated fullerenes C 60 in their lipid bilayers and encapsulated photosensitizer naphthalocyanate. 24 hours after their intravenous administration the melanoma tumors implanted in C57 mice were irradiated with one pulse of 8 ns infrared laser for the bleaching of melanin granules and for the release of photosensitizer and subsequently illuminated with 776 nm diode laser for conventional photodynamic treatment of tumors. Significant tumor response was found which is markedly larger than that obtained with either treatment alone.