Melanin-Based Nanoparticles in Biomedical Applications

Melanin-based nanoparticles have emerged as a versatile platform in biomedicine owing to their intrinsic biocompatibility, broadband light absorption and radical scavenging properties. These nanomaterials—both naturally derived and synthetic analogues such as polydopamine—exhibit efficient photothermal conversion and photoprotective functions, enabling applications in tumour ablation, drug delivery and multimodal imaging. Their capacity to chelate metal ions further endows them with contrast-enhancing abilities for magnetic resonance and photoacoustic modalities. Moreover, the antioxidant behaviour of melanin nanoparticles mitigates oxidative stress, facilitating inflammation control alongside cancer therapy. Recent advances have refined surface functionalisation for targeted delivery, improved biodegradation profiles and integrated synergistic treatment regimens. Together, these developments underscore the global significance of melanin-based nanosystems as a bridge towards clinically translatable theranostic agents.

Research from Nature Portfolio

A foundational study has repurposed the human tyrosinase gene as a single-component reporter system for multimodal imaging. By engineering tumour cells to overexpress tyrosinase, intracellular melanin production enabled simultaneous photoacoustic, magnetic resonance and positron emission tomography contrast without the need for separate probes. This approach achieved high tumour-to-background resolution across all three modalities in vivo, illustrating a novel route to non-invasive tracking of gene expression and cell fate with a unified melanin-based reporter.

Melanin-Based Nanoparticles in Biomedical Applications publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in melanin-based nanoparticles in biomedical applications across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Polydopamine nanoparticle: A synthetic mimic of natural melanin formed by oxidative self-polymerisation of dopamine, used as a versatile nanoplatform.

Photothermal therapy: A treatment modality in which light absorption by a chromophore generates localized heat to destroy target tissues.

Photoacoustic imaging: An imaging technique converting light-induced ultrasound waves into high-resolution images of optical absorption in tissues.

Reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (RONS): Highly reactive molecules produced in cells that can cause oxidative damage but may be scavenged by antioxidants.

Relaxivity: A measure of the efficacy of a contrast agent in shortening the relaxation times of water protons in magnetic resonance imaging.

References

1. Melanin‐Like Nanomaterials for Advanced Biomedical Applications: A Versatile Platform with Extraordinary Promise. Advanced Science (2020).
2. Tyrosinase as a multifunctional reporter gene for Photoacoustic/MRI/PET triple modality molecular imaging. Scientific Reports (2013).
3. Genetic Engineering Bacillus thuringiensis Enable Melanin Biosynthesis for Anti‐Tumor and Anti‐Inflammation. Advanced Science (2024).
4. A Versatile PDA(DOX) Nanoplatform for Chemo-Photothermal Synergistic Therapy against Breast Cancer and Attenuated Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity. Journal of Nanobiotechnology (2023).
5. Novel Intrapolymerization Doped Manganese‐Eumelanin Coordination Nanocomposites with Ultrahigh Relaxivity and Their Application in Tumor Theranostics. Advanced Science (2018).