Recent advancements in drug delivery technologies utilizing a variety of carriers have resulted in a path-breaking revolution in the approach towards diagnosis and therapy alike in the current times. ...Need for materials with high thermal, chemical and mechanical properties have led to the development of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs). These ordered porous materials have garnered immense attention as drug carriers owing to their distinctive features over the others. They can be synthesized using a relatively simple process, thus making it cost effective. Moreover, by controlling the parameters during the synthesis; the morphology, pore size and volume and particle size can be transformed accordingly. Over the last few years, a rapid increase in research on MSNs as drug carriers for the treatment of various diseases has been observed indicating its potential benefits in drug delivery. Their widespread application for the loading of small molecules as well as macromolecules such as proteins, siRNA and so forth, has made it a versatile carrier. In the recent times, researchers have sorted to several modifications in the framework of MSNs to explore its potential in drug resistant chemotherapy, antimicrobial therapy. In this review, we have discussed the synthesis of these multitalented nanoparticles and the factors influencing the size and morphology of this wonder carrier. The second part of this review emphasizes on the applications and the advances made in the MSNs to broaden the spectrum of its use especially in the field of biomedicine. We have also touched upon the lacunae in the thorough understanding of its interaction with a biological system which poses a major hurdle in the passage of this carrier to the clinical level. In the final part of this review, we have discussed some of the major patents filed in the field of MSNs for therapeutic purpose.
To solve the problems existing in the clinical application of hypericin (Hyp) and tirapazamine (TPZ), a nano-drug delivery system with synergistic anti-tumor functions was constructed using ...mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) and sodium alginate (SA). The system exhibited excellent stability, physiological compatibility and targeted drug release performance in tumor tissues. In the in vitro and in vivo experiments, Hyp released from MSN killed tumor cells through photodynamic therapy (PDT). The degree of hypoxia in the tumor tissue site was exacerbated, enabling TPZ to fully exert its anti-tumor activity. Our studies suggested that the synergistic effects between the components of the nano-drug delivery system significantly improve the anti-tumor properties of Hyp and TPZ.
We developed multifunctional nano drug delivery system to deliver the photosensitizer hypericin (Hyp) and Fe3+-tirapazamine (TPZ) complexes. The composite nanoparticle could release drugs in a pH response and show remarkable anti-tumor efficacy through the combination of PDT and hypoxia-activated chemotherapy. Display omitted
•The synthesis method of Hyp/MSN@Fe-TPZ@SA nanoparticles is relatively simple.•The SA shell of Hyp/MSN@Fe-TPZ@SA enables the system to release drugs in a pH response with high safety and efficacy profile.•Hyp in the system aggravates hypoxia in the tumor site and thus activates TPZ, showing high synergistic anti-tumor effect.
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Oral delivery of protein or peptide drugs confronts several barriers, the intestinal epithelium and the mucus barrier on the gastrointestinal tract is deemed to be the toughest ...obstacles. However, overcoming these two obstacles requires contradictory surface properties of a nanocarrier. In the present work, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) were modified with deoxycholic acid (DC) and coated with sulfobetaine 12 (SB12) for the first time to achieve both improved mucus permeation and transepithelial absorption. MSNs modified with stearic acid and coated with dilauroylphosphatidylcholine (DLPC) or Pluronic P123 were also prepared as controls. The SB12 coated DC modified MSN had high drug loading of 22.2%. The zwitterion coating endows the MSN improved mucus penetrating ability. In addition, the carrier also showed remarkable affinity with epithelial cells. The cellular uptake was significantly improved (10-fold for Caco-2 cells and 8-fold for E12 cells). The results also indicated that the DC modified carrier was able to avoid entry into lysosomes. It can increase the absorption of loaded insulin in all intestine segments and showed outstanding hypoglycemic effect in diabetic rats. The results suggest the zwitterion-functionalized MSNs might be a good candidate for oral protein delivery.
This article demonstrates the fabrication of versatile nanoformulation by conveniently wrapping the ultrasmall platinum nanoparticles-dispersed over the zinc metal species-doped mesoporous ...silica-based nanocarriers (Zn-MSNs). Such innovative nanocarriers not only convey the drug cargo efficiently but also facilitate the advanced abilities of deep tumor penetration through interacting with adherens junctions and aphotic (dark) synergistic therapeutic effects to combat cancer multidrug resistance.
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•Ultrasmall Pt-NPs were wrapped over metal-doped MSNs to combat cancer MDR.•Pt-NPs facilitated advanced abilities of deep tumor penetration and aphotic synergistic effects.•Pt-NPs have shown significant effect on integrity of adherens junctions between cells.•Zn species offered pH-responsive coordination with Dox enabling its precise release.•ROS from Dox enabled the conversion to Pt ions, resulting in synergistic tumor ablation.
Despite the significant advancements in the development of a wide-variety of nanocarriers-based delivery systems for cancer therapy, several predominant issues remain unaddressed such as active combat of cancer multidrug resistance (MDR) and the limited penetration efficacy of the delivery systems. To address these issues, herein, we demonstrate the fabrication of a versatile nanoformulation by conveniently wrapping the ultrasmall platinum (Pt) nanoparticles-dispersed chitosan (CS) over the zinc-doped mesoporous silica nanocarriers (Zn-MSNs) through a facile, yet efficient self-assembly approach. These versatile nanocomposites decorated with highly active, ultrasmall Pt nanoparticles potentially facilitate the advanced therapeutic abilities of deep tumor penetration and aphotic (dark) synergistic ablation of the MDR tumors effectively. In this framework, pericellular actin staining results confirmed the effect of decorated Pt species on the integrity of the adherens junctions between cells. Remarkably, the Zn species that are doped in the siliceous frameworks substantially enhanced the loading efficiency of doxorubicin (Dox) molecules without any additional functionalization and facilitated the augmented anticancer efficacy by delivering them precisely in the tumor’s acidic microenvironment through specifically dismantling the established coordination interactions between the host and guest species. Further, the resultant free radical species from the delivered Dox species intracellularly enabled the catalytic conversion of the Pt nanoparticles to their corresponding divalent ionic species, which synergistically participated in the tumor ablation. These consequences of Pt species toward synergistic ablation of MDR cells happened to be favourable only in the presence of Dox species, a free radical generator. In vitro and in vivo investigations confirm augmented antiproliferation and synergistic inhibition effects of designed nanocomposites in the MDR tumors. These nanocomposites decorated with highly active Pt nanoparticles potentially allow for deep tumor penetration and synergistic ablation of the tumor by conveniently combating the MDR efficaciously.
Developing reliable and sensitive detection methods for adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is vital for both clinical diagnosis and food safety. In this work, by coupling aptazyme- and catalytic hairpin ...assembly (CHA)-based signal amplification and electrochemiluminescence (ECL), an ultrasensitive biosensor for sensing ATP was fabricated using Ru(bpy)32+-doped silica nanoparticles (RuSiO2) as ECL probes and a ferrocene-functionalized hairpin DNA (hairpin-Fc) as quencher. The aptazyme-triggered cleavage of the DNA substrate and the CHA reaction both led to the circular release of trigger DNA, resulting in a significant dual signal amplification, with unprecedented enhancement up to 940-fold. Moreover, the bioconjugation of the DNA substrate with Au@Fe3O4 facilitated the separation and purification of the released trigger DNA, and effectively reduced the background signal. As a result, the as-prepared ECL biosensor exhibited a much lower detection limit of 0.054 pM for ATP, compared to those in previous reports, and showed high reliability for ATP detection in both spiked serum samples and Staphylococcus aureus. This work offers a new perspective for designing nucleic acid-based signal amplification for detecting ATP in bacterial analysis and clinical diagnosis.
•Aptazyme- and CHA-based signal amplification was coupled with ECL for biosensing of ATP.•The aptazyme- and CHA-based signal amplification resulted in an enhancement up to 940-fold.•The detection was based on the electron transfer between RuSiO2 probes and Fc quenchers.•Anchoring DNA on Au@Fe3O4 facilitated separation and purification of the released trigger DNA.•The biosensor showed high reliability for both spiked serum samples and Staphylococcus aureus.
Over the past few decades, the study of superhydrophobic coatings (SHCs) gained the significant interest of worldwide researchers due to their tremendous applications in various sectors including, ...the metal industry, membrane industry, automation, structures, marine, defense, and medicines. The literature is full of review papers on the basics of SHCs, their synthesis methods, and their applications. But, minimal reviews are available on silica nanoparticles-based SHCs. However, silica nanoparticles are well-known material for SHCs due to their abundance, economical, transparency and ease of surface modification by various surface-functionalizing agents compared to other nanomaterials. Furthermore, silica nanoparticles are the most preferred material for the generation of nano-level roughness in the coatings to exhibit superhydrophobicity. Therefore, there is a great need to work in this direction. This work is dedicated to the challenges, recent progress and applications of silica nanoparticles-based superhydrophobic coatings.
In recent years, nanomedicine has emerged at the forefront of nanotechnology, generating great expectations in the biomedical field. Researchers are developing novel nanoparticles for both diagnostic ...applications using imaging technology and treatment purposes through drug delivery technologies. Among all the available nanoparticles, inorganic mesoporous silica nanoparticles are the newcomers to the field, contributing with their unique and superlative properties. A brief overview of the most recent progress in the synthesis of mesoporous silica nanoparticles and their use as drug delivery nanocarriers is provided. The latest trends in this type of nanoparticles and their use in modern medicine are discussed, highlighting the significant impact that this technology might have in the near future.
A brief overview of the most recent progress in the synthesis of mesoporous silica nanoparticles and their use as drug delivery nanocarriers is presented here. An update on the latest trends in this type of nanoparticles and their use in modern medicine is provided, highlighting the significant impact that this technology might have in the near future.
•The properties and structures of different types of MSNs are discussed.•Various configurations of MSN-based systems for cancer diagnosis and therapy are highlighted.•Role of MSN-based drug delivery ...systems for combating the cancer multidrug resistance is outlined.•A comprehensive timeline of the evolution of MSNs for biological applications is presented.
Cancer is among the most serious diseases characterized by uncontrollable cell growth and spread of abnormal cells. Cancerous cells form tumors that negatively impact the functions of the body, inducing serious malfunctioning leading to fatalities in most cases. Up to now, the effective diagnosis and treatments of cancer have remained a big challenge. Nanotechnology is an emerging field encompassing science, engineering and medicine, which has attracted great attention for cancer therapy in recent years. Among the numerous nanomaterials, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have attracted great attention and are being considered as promising biomedical materials for the development of cancer therapies because of their size tunability, surface functionality, optically transparent properties, low toxicity and high drug loading efficiency. In this review, we first outline the properties and structure of different configurations of MSNs and their subsequent application in the field of cancer theranostics. Thereafter, the potential of MSNs as multifunctional delivery platforms for therapeutic agents and their significance in next generation cancer therapy is discussed.
Pharmaceutical nanotechnology has become a trend with incalculable advantages in the applicability of systems in the controlled, safe and effective release of drugs. Among the nanotechnological ...nanoparticles, the mesoporous silica nanoparticles stand out, a system with significant biocompatibility, good physical chemical stability, greater surface contact area with desirable and adjustable pore structure. Once developed and well defined, these pores can carry drugs and control their release. However, to create this type of nanoparticle is essencial to use surfactants since they act as pore template. Among the most important surfactants, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) highlights, a quaternary ammonium compound widely used as a surfactant in the synthesis of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), hollow mesoporous silica (HMSNs) and core-shell MSNs. However, for achieving good results of drug-loaded pores it is necessary to remove CTAB by extraction techniques, which provides pores formation throughout the silica and the incorporation of molecules. During and after the removal process, it is possible that CTAB residues remains inside the pores, despide several removal processes are described as efficient in the complete removal of surfactants. In turn, the presence of CTAB residues can be advantageous, especially when considering its antimicrobial activity. Meanwhile, it should be noted that the presence of CTAB may present high toxicity risks. This review seeks to explore not only general aspects of the use of CTAB in the synthesis of MSNs, but also to assess its toxicity in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, in order to determine whether CTAB residues are acceptable in MSNs that will be used as drug delivery systems for further in vivo and clinical assays.
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•Greener methods for CTAB removal are desirable.•CTAB can be responsible for nanoparticles toxicity.•CTAB residues can be a potential tool against microorganism.