Fucoidan Immobilized at the Surface of a Fibrous Mesh Presents Toxic Effects over Melanoma Cells, But Not over Noncancer Skin Cells

Abstract

The use of fucoidan, a marine-origin bioactive polymer, is herein proposed as a component of an innovative and effective strategy against melanoma, one of the most aggressive skin cancers. First, fucoidan antitumor activity, in its soluble form, was assessed presenting increased cytotoxicity over melanoma cells when compared to human dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes. After this antitumor activity validation and trying to develop a more targeted and local strategy aiming to diminish the cytotoxic effects over noncancer cells, fucoidan was immobilized at the surface of an electrospun nanofiber mesh (NFM_Fu), envisioning the development of a therapeutic patch. The maximum immobilization concentration was 1.2 mg mL −1 , determined by the Toluidine Blue Assay and confirmed by XPS. Furthermore, NFM_Fu is more hydrophilic than NFM, presenting a contact angle of 36°, lower than the 121°of the control condition. NFM_Fu was able to reduce human melanoma cell viability by 50% without affecting human dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes. Taken together, these results set the basis for a valuable approach for melanoma treatment.

Sulfated Seaweed Polysaccharides

“…Fucoidan was used to induce not only cell proliferation but additionally influence osteoconductive properties including alkaline phosphatase activity, collagen type I expression, and mineral deposition. Besides, micro/nanofibrous membranes and scaffolds of PCL and fucoidan have been produced by electrospinning and airbrushing, aimed for application in bone regeneration (Jin and Kim 2011;Silva et al 2012), vascularization or anti-tumor devices (Oliveira et al 2020b). The use of fucoidan on tissue engineering applications have gained particular attention also due to its enhancement of FGF-2 activity (Nakamura et al 2006), promotion of the formation of fibrillar collagen matrix, support of fibroblastic proliferation (Ko et al 2012), and stimulation of angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo (Ko et al 2012;Luyt et al 2003).…”

Comparative Bioactivities of Chemically Modified Fucoidan and λ-Carrageenan toward Cells Encapsulated in Covalently Cross-Linked Hydrogels

“…Traditionally, sulfated polysaccharides from animal-based sources, such as heparin and chondroitin sulfate, have been used in tissue engineering applications. More recently, marine seaweeds have emerged as the most important source of nonanimal-based sulfated polysaccharides because they possess important pharmacological activities, including antioxidative, anticoagulative, antiproliferative, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antiadhesive properties. , Although such sulfated polysaccharides have found applications as components of 3D tissue-engineering constructs owing to their biological properties, there is only limited information about the comparative structural and biological effects of sulfated polysaccharides.…”

“…More recently, marine seaweeds have emerged as the most important source of nonanimal-based sulfated polysaccharides because they possess important pharmacological activities, including antioxidative, anticoagulative, antiproliferative, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antiadhesive properties. 1,8 Although such sulfated polysaccharides have found applications as components of 3D tissue-engineering constructs owing to their biological properties, there is only limited information about the comparative structural and biological effects of sulfated polysaccharides. Fucoidan and λ-carrageenan are sulfated polysaccharides that are isolated respectively from brown and red seaweeds; each polysaccharide has three sulfate groups on their disaccharide repeating units.…”

Adhesive and Antibacterial Films Based on Marine-Derived Fucoidan and Chitosan

“…Marine ecosystems rich in microalgae and macroalgae, such as seaweeds, are known to combat different bacteria . Such ecosystems contain different components, but among them, fucoidan, an anionic sulfated polysaccharide that is fucose-rich, has been identified in the cell wall matrix of brown seaweeds and described for its antibacterial properties. , Fucoidan is neither toxic nor irritating and has been proposed for anticoagulant, antioxidant, angiogenic, , antitumoral, , antiviral, − anti-inflammatory, , and antibacterial applications. However, its bioactivity depends on the molecular weight, the extraction and purification procedures, and structure (e.g., branching, sugar and sulfate content, and sulfate group positions) .…”