{
  "abstract": "Purpose: Melanoma remains a highly aggressive malignancy with limited therapeutic options, largely due to poor tumor selectivity and acquired resistance to conventional treatments in advanced disease. This study aimed to develop a gold nanorod (AuNR)-integrated metal-organic framework (MOF) theranostic nanoplatform for photoacoustic imaging-guided photothermal therapy of melanoma and to investigate its association with pyroptosis-related signaling.\n\nMethods: The α-MG/AuNR@ZIF-8/FA-PEG nanoplatform was rationally engineered to co-deliver α-mangostin (α-MG) and AuNRs within a pH-responsive ZIF-8 matrix, with folate-PEG surface modification to enhance cellular uptake. Physicochemical properties were characterized by TEM, DLS, and FTIR. Drug release profiles, photothermal conversion efficiency, hemocompatibility, and short-term in vivo tolerability were systematically evaluated. In vitro cytotoxicity and cellular uptake were assessed in A375 melanoma cells, and in vivo antitumor efficacy was validated in tumor-bearing mice. The pyroptosis-related signaling pathway was investigated by Western blotting.\n\nResults: The nanoplatform exhibited favorable colloidal stability, pH-responsive controlled drug release, and excellent photothermal performance, with a hydrodynamic diameter of approximately 212.1 nm, a zeta potential of approximately −22 mV, an α-MG loading capacity of 21.89 ± 0.02%, and a peak temperature of approximately 56.5 °C under 808 nm laser irradiation (1.0 W/cm2). FA-PEG modification was associated with enhanced cellular uptake, while time-dependent tumor accumulation of the nanoplatform was observed in vivo. The combined treatment produced greater antitumor effects than the tested comparator groups, with an approximately 70% tumor growth inhibition rate. Mechanistically, treatment was associated with increased oxidative stress, activation of the canonical NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD pyroptosis-related pathway, and enhanced cell death. AuNR-mediated photothermal heating further strengthened these responses, suggesting that the improved antitumor efficacy may involve the combined effects of α-MG-induced oxidative stress, photothermal injury, and activation of pyroptosis-related signaling.\n\nConclusion: This multifunctional nanoplatform integrates α-MG delivery, real-time photoacoustic imaging, and controlled photothermal activation, and its antitumor effects were associated with activation of pyroptosis-related signaling. These findings support further investigation of this platform for image-guided melanoma therapy.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Dermatology, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, 261000, People’s Republic of China",
    "School of Clinical Medicine, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, 261000, People’s Republic of China"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Huiping Fan"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Mogen Zhang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Rui Sun"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Hua Liu",
      "orcid": "0009-0007-8715-2988"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Chengqi Liu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Dong Zhang",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-0621-0645"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Weiyuan Ma",
      "orcid": "0009-0001-0593-1299"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1k3gxpd4vdvfk.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.2147/ijn.s641926",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13738227/",
  "id": "1k3gxpd4vdvfk",
  "issns": [
    "1176-9114",
    "1178-2013"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.2147/ijn.s641926",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Original Research"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2204|Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7225018345",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.dovepress.com/article/download/121711",
  "pmcid": "PMC13738227",
  "pmid": "42992166",
  "published": "2026-11-01",
  "publisher": "Dove Press",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1k3gxpd4vdvfk.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-09T12:23:15Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13738227",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.2147/ijn.s641926"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [],
  "title": "α-Mangostin-Loaded Gold Nanorod-Integrated MOF Nanoplatform for Photoacoustic Imaging-Guided Photothermal Therapy of Melanoma Involving Pyroptosis-Related Signaling",
  "title_text": "α-Mangostin-Loaded Gold Nanorod-Integrated MOF Nanoplatform for Photoacoustic Imaging-Guided Photothermal Therapy of Melanoma Involving Pyroptosis-Related Signaling",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-09T12:23:15Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1k3gxpd4vdvfk",
  "venue": "International Journal of Nanomedicine",
  "versions": []
}