Melanoma is a malignant tumor that accounts for the deadliest form of skin cancers. Despite the significant efforts made recently for development of immunotherapeutic strategies including using immune checkpoint inhibitors and cancer vaccines, the clinical outcomes are unsatisfying. Different factors affect efficient cancer immunotherapy such as side-effects, immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, and tumor heterogeneity. In the past decades, various nanotechnology-based approaches have been developed to enhance the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy, in addition to diminishing the toxicity associated with it. Several studies have shown that proper application of nanomaterials can revolutionize the outcome of immunotherapy in diverse melanoma models. This review summarizes the recent advancement in the integration of nanotechnology and cancer immunotherapy in melanoma treatment. The importance of nanomaterials and their therapeutic advantages for patients with melanoma are also discussed.

Simultaneous delivery of tumor antigens and adjuvants to antigen presenting cells via nanoparticles activates T cells to attack cancer cells. This causes cancer cell death and release of tumor antigens into the tumor microenvironment, further stimulating the immune system.