Título:	Chlorophyll-loaded castor oil nanoemulsions exhibit photodynamic therapy efficacy against b16-f10 melanoma with low cytotoxicity toward hacat keratinocytes
Autor(es):	Araújo, Joabe Lima Santos, Alexandre Silva Silva, Vitória Regina Miranda Carvalho Santos, Lucas Carvalho dos Mariano, André de Lima e Silva Florêncio, Isadora Báo, Sônia Nair Silva, Sebastião William da Souza, Paulo Eduardo Narcizo Azevedo, Ricardo Bentes Muehlmann, Luís Alexandre
ORCID:	https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4806-9192 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9929-0201 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8013-8250 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5665-6349 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9873-3098 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4483-9687 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4289-8678 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2137-9588 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4711-7583
Afiliação do autor:	University of Brasília, Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Genetics and Morphology University of Brasília, Institute of Physics, Optical Spectroscopy Laboratory University of Brasília, Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Genetics and Morphology University of Brasília, Institute of Chemistry Optical Spectroscopy Laboratory, Institute of Physics, Darcy Ribeiro University Campus, University of Brasília, Brasília 70910-900, Brazil University of Brasília, Institute of Biological Sciences, Cellular Biology Department University of Brasília, Institute of Biological Sciences, Cellular Biology Department University of Brasília, Institute of Physics, Optical Spectroscopy Laboratory University of Brasília, Institute of Physics, Optical Spectroscopy Laboratory University of Brasília, Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Genetics and Morphology University of Brasilia, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technologies
Assunto:	Terapia fotodinâmica Clorofila Nanoemulsão Melanoma Pele - câncer
Data de publicação:	23-Jun-2026
Editora:	MDPI AG
Referência:	ARAÚJO, Joabe Lima; SANTOS, Alexandre Silva; SILVA, Vitória Regina Miranda Carvalho; SANTOS, Lucas Carvalho dos; MARIANO, André de Lima e Silva; FLORÊNCIO, Isadora; BÁO, Sônia Nair; SILVA, Sebastião William da; SOUZA, Paulo Eduardo N.; AZEVEDO, Ricardo Bentes; MUEHLMANN, Luís Alexandre. Chlorophyll-loaded castor oil nanoemulsions exhibit photodynamic therapy efficacy against b16-f10 melanoma with low cytotoxicity toward hacat keratinocytes. Pharmaceuticals, [S. l.], v. 19, n. 7, p. 974, 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ph19070974. Disponível em: https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/19/7/974. Acesso em: 12 ago. 2026.
Abstract:	Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising minimally invasive approach for melanoma; however, many photosensitizers lose activity in aqueous media due to aggregation-induced quenching effects. Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop and characterize castor oil–based nanoemulsions containing chlorophyll (NFs-Chl) and to evaluate their in vitro photodynamic potential against melanoma cells (B16-F10), as well as their selectivity compared with human keratinocytes (HaCaT). Methods: NFs-Chl were prepared by spontaneous emulsification. Physicochemical characterization was carried out using dynamic light scattering (DLS), UV–Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy. In vitro assays included MTT for cell viability (IC50 determination), real-time cell proliferation (RealTime-Glo™), and cell migration analysis (scratch assay). All photodynamic treatments were performed under irradiation at 660 nm. Results: NFs-Chl exhibited homogeneous nanometric sizes (≈24–31 nm) and a low polydispersity index (≈0.25–0.40), indicating a narrow size distribution. UV–Vis spectra confirmed the preservation of the characteristic absorption peaks of chlorophyll after encapsulation. In B16-F10 cells, NFs-Chl associated with PDT significantly reduced cell viability and metabolic activity over 48 h. Furthermore, NFs-Chl inhibited the migratory capacity of B16-F10 cancer cells. Cell migration assays revealed a clear inhibition of B16-F10 cell migration following treatment with NFs-Chl + PDT. Conclusions: Encapsulation of chlorophyll into castor oil nanoemulsions protected the photosensitizer, improved its cellular delivery, and enhanced its photodynamic cytotoxic effect against melanoma cells, while relatively preserving normal keratinocytes in vitro.
Licença:	This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.3390/ph19070974
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