2. Academic Validation
  3. A dual-functional mitochondrial probe for melanoma visualization and PI3K/AKT/mTOR-EMT signaling axis-mediated antitumor therapy

A dual-functional mitochondrial probe for melanoma visualization and PI3K/AKT/mTOR-EMT signaling axis-mediated antitumor therapy

  • Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2025 Jun 3:254:114847. doi: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2025.114847.
Tong Xia 1,  Hongye Liao 1,  Ziyuan Zeng 1,  Meili Li 1,  Simei Yang 2,  Xun Yang 1,  Yuanmin He 1,  Jie Qing 3,  Li Liu 1,  Xia Xiong 4,  Changzhen Sun 5
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Dermatology, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China.
  • 2 School of Public Health, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China.
  • 3 Drug Research Center of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China.
  • 4 Department of Dermatology, The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China. Electronic address: xiongxia789@126.com.
  • 5 Drug Research Center of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China; Luzhou Key Laboratory of research and development of medical institution preparations and large-scale health products, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China. Electronic address: sunchangzhen@swmu.edu.cn.
PMID: 40482387 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2025.114847
Abstract

Melanoma is a highly metastatic Cancer with poor treatment outcomes. Mitochondria, regulated by various signaling pathways, are an important target in Cancer therapy. Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence probes have gained interest due to their properties such as deep tissue penetration, high image sensitivity, and precision targeting. In this study, we developed a novel NIR fluorescent probe IR-545 for melanoma imaging, which demonstrated mitochondrial targeting and antitumor activity in melanoma cells. In vitro experiments showed that IR-545 was taken up by melanoma cells through organic anion-transport polypeptides and targeted tumor cell mitochondria. IR-545 induced Apoptosis by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and suppressed the proliferation and metastasis of melanoma cells. In vivo, IR-545 significantly inhibited tumor growth in BALB/c nude mice. Immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and H&E staining confirmed that IR-545 induced tumor cell Apoptosis and inhibited proliferation without notable side effects. In conclusion, IR-545 shows significant potential in imaging and treating melanoma, offering a promising new therapeutic approach.

Keywords

Anti-cancer; Apoptosis; Melanoma; Mitochondrial-targeted; Near-infrared fluorescent probe.

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