Boronophenylalanine‐Containing Polydopamine Nanoparticles for Enhanced Combined Boron Neutron Capture Therapy and Photothermal Therapy for Melanoma Treatment

Abstract

Melanoma, the most aggressive skin cancer type, is challenging to treat due to its high metastatic potential and low response to conventional therapies. Innovative approaches, including combination therapies, are crucial for enhancing treatment efficacy while minimizing side effects. It is developed boronophenylalanine‐containing polydopaine (B‐PDA) nanoparticles by encapsulating boronophenylalanine in polydopamine through nitrogen‐boronate coordination, targeting both boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) and photothermal therapy (PTT). With stability and biocompatibility under physiological conditions, these nanoparticles utilize the phenylalanine residues in BPA to target the overexpressed neutral amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) in melanoma cells, resulting in enhanced cell‐specific targeting. B‐PDA nanoparticles demonstrated significant photothermal effects under external stimulation, inducing localized heating and triggering heterogeneous tumor cell death, thereby enhancing sensitivity to BNCT. Combining BNCT and PTT, the B‐PDA nanoparticles offer a promising strategy for melanoma treatment.