Metal Complex Hydrogel as a Dual Functional Photothermal Platform for In Vitro Doxorubicin Delivery in Ocular Melanoma Treatment

ABSTRACT Photothermal therapy is a promising adjunctive treatment technique requiring a nanoplatform with excellent biocompatibility, photothermal stability, and precise targeting capabilities. This study aims to develop such a nanoplatform by synthesizing two new manganese(II)‐based coordination polymers. The polymers were created by integrating 1,4‐bis(imidazol‐1‐yl)benzene with the ternary ligand tris( p ‐carboxyphenyl)phosphane oxide, resulting in the formulas {[Mn 3 (L) 2 (bib) 3 (H 2 O) 7 ]·12H 2 O} n (CP 1 ) and {[Mn(HL)(bib)]·H 2 O} n (CP 2 ). These structures, with large surface areas and porosity, enhance drug loading efficiency. Doxorubicin (DOX) was successfully incorporated into a biocompatible HA/CMCS hydrogel‐CP composite (HA/CMCS‐CPs@DOX), forming a robust nanotherapeutic platform. Under near‐infrared light irradiation, these metal‐hydrogel composites effectively induced localized hyperthermia, aiding ocular melanoma treatment. We evaluated the effect of HA/CMCS‐CP 2 @DOX on the cell proliferation of the uveal melanoma cell line, and the regulatory effects of the system on lncRNA ARAP1‐AS1/miR‐149‐3p/S100A4 were also explored.