Evaluation of Natural Polyphenols Encapsulated in Multiparticulate Drug Delivery Systems as Potential Therapeutics for Cutaneous Melanoma

Nutraceuticals are bioactive compounds that can contribute to maintaining general health and supporting the treatment of various conditions. Among them, flavonoids such as curcumin (C) and quercetin (Q) are of particular interest in oncology research, including melanoma, due to their anti-tumor effects. However, due to poor bioavailability, the development of efficient delivery vehicles is of utmost importance. In this context, we aimed to assess the effectiveness of a potential treatment on the progression of cutaneous melanoma by evaluating cell viability and proliferation in the presence of encapsulated C/Q in innovative microcapsules (MDDS) embedded in a collagen matrix, as well as the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential. We found that tumor cell viability and proliferation were significantly reduced in the presence of C/Q, with the best results being obtained for the composite with both bioactive compounds, these results were also supported by a significant increase in pro-apoptotic markers. A decrease in pro-inflammatory markers was observed, as well as a decrease in ROS secretion over time, indicating the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential of the materials supplemented with the tested flavonoids, these properties being important for TME modulation. Therefore, the MDDS-CQ embedded sponge could represent a potential adjuvant therapy for cutaneous melanoma in the future.