3D Bioprinted Melanoma Constructs Reveal Delivery-Dependent Efficacy of Phytochemical-Gold Nanoparticle Formulations

This study evaluates the effectiveness of phytochemical nanoformulations, specifically curcumin and thymoquinone (TQ) delivered via gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), against melanoma A375 cells in both 2D and 3D bioprinted scaffolds. While free phytochemicals and AuNP co-administration showed dose-dependent cytotoxicity in 2D cultures, only AuNP-phytochemical conjugates maintained mitochondrial and redox stress in 3D scaffolds, effectively suppressing melanoma viability. The study highlights the limitations of free and co-administered agents due to diffusion constraints and extracellular matrix resistance, emphasizing the superior efficacy of conjugated AuNP-phytochemical formulations in overcoming 3D adaptation barriers. This research establishes a framework for evaluating phytochemical nanomedicines based on delivery strategy.