Impact of Micellar Riboflavin in Normal Skin Cells: Melanocytes and Fibroblasts

• Grant number: 25/12280-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Enzymology
• Principal Investigator: Carmen Veríssima Ferreira
• Grantee: Felipe Kennedy Carvalho Torquato
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 25/00313-6 - Melanoma Biohacking by Micellar Formulation for Topical Application: Validation in Multicellular Bioprinted Skin, AP.R

Abstract

Melanomas are the most aggressive types of skin cancer, with low responsiveness to therapy, and are therefore responsible for over 80% of deaths associated with skin neoplasms. The main challenges in treatment are the high cost and low therapeutic efficacy. Thus, we propose that riboflavin photoproducts (RFP) can democratize melanoma treatment. Our research group has demonstrated that mediators involved in melanoma cell migration, adhesion, and survival are downregulated by riboflavin photoproducts (RFP). The antitumor effect of RFP has been validated in models of increasing complexity, including 2D cell cultures, 3D cultures (spheroids and organoids), and in vivo models (mouse model of pulmonary metastasis). Given the promising effects of RFP, we developed Pluronic-based topical formulations containing these riboflavin derivatives. However, it is still necessary to validate the efficacy of these formulations in normal human cells.