Pulsed Laser Ablation Synthesis of ZnO Nanoparticles and Enhanced Cytotoxicity on Ocular Melanoma Cells via Combined Femtosecond Laser Treatment
Received: 30 May 2025 | Revised: 12 July 2025 and 16 July 2025 | Accepted: 20 July 2025 | Online: 6 October 2025
Corresponding author: Ahmed O. El-Gendy
Abstract
Ocular melanoma, a malignant tumor that arises from the uveal tract, presents significant therapeutic challenges due to its intricate anatomy and limited accessibility. Recent advances propose a novel targeted treatment approach by combining femtosecond laser technology with Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) synthesized through laser ablation. This study investigates the combined effects of femtosecond laser irradiation and ZnO-NPs on A375 melanoma cells. ZnO-NPs were synthesized by ablating high-purity zinc in distilled water using a 532 nm Nd:YAG laser. The nanoparticles were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, TEM, EDX, and concentration analysis, revealing optimal size distribution and surface properties suitable for biological applications. A375 ocular melanoma cells were treated with ZnO-NPs, followed by femtosecond laser irradiation at wavelengths of 420 and 700 nm. Cytotoxicity was assessed using MTT assays, which showed that the combination of ZnO-NPs and 420 nm laser irradiation significantly reduced cell viability compared to either treatment alone. This innovative approach underscores the potential of combining nanotechnology with femtosecond laser technology to achieve precise and effective cancer cell targeting. Further in vivo studies are required to evaluate the clinical applicability of this promising strategy.
Keywords:
ocular melanoma, femtosecond laser-based treatment, Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs), laser ablation synthesis technique, Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)Downloads
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Copyright (c) 2025 Khalid T. Nawaf, Safaa Taha, Yasmin Abd El-Salam, Fatma Abdel Samad, Hala M. Rifaat, Ahmed O. El-Gendy, Tarek Mohamed
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