Enhanced killing of ocular melanoma cells by combining femtosecond laser light with laser-ablated CuO nanoparticles

Skin cancer is the leading type of cancer worldwide, divided into two main categories: melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. In addition to cutaneous melanoma, ocular melanoma affects the eye and urgently requires innovative therapeutic approaches. Nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as promising tools in medicine due to their advantages, including the ability to overcome the limitations of conventional chemotherapy. This study investigated the combined effects of femtosecond laser irradiation plus copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) on A375 melanoma cells. The CuO NPs were synthesized by laser ablation of a high-purity copper target in distilled water using a 532 nm Nd:YAG laser. The CuO NPs were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analysis. A375 ocular melanoma cells were subsequently treated with CuO NPs and exposed to femtosecond laser irradiation (420 nm). The in vitro cytotoxicity using the MTT assay showed that both femtosecond laser and the combination of CuO NPs and femtosecond laser irradiation have good activity in reducing cell viability compared to CuO nanoparticles. These findings highlight the potential of combining CuO NPs with femtosecond laser irradiation as a possible therapeutic strategy for ocular malignant melanoma.