Amphiphilic hyperbranched polyester coated rod mesoporous silica nanoparticles for pH-responsive doxorubicin delivery

Multipurpose adsorption applications of boron-doped and amino-functionalized magnetic mesoporous silica nanocomposite

In this study, boron-doped magnetic mesoporous silica nanocomposite was prepared through the hydrothermal synthesis procedure followed by post modification with -NH2 groups. The higher surface area, more ordered mesoporous structure, and higher surface charge density obtained by boron doping and amino functionalization contributed to the use of nanocomposite for multipurpose application functions. When used as an adsorbent for light green (LG) anionic dye, boron-doped nanocomposite exhibited higher adsorption capacity (105.80 mg/g) compared to undoped nanocomposite (72.23 mg/g), while when used as a drug carrier for Doxorubicin (DOX), a sufficient drug loading capacity (48.0 mg/g) was obtained, which is also higher than that of undoped nanocomposite (30.3 mg/g). In terms of LG adsorption, the effects such as initial concentration, adsorbent dosage, time, pH, and temperature on the adsorption properties were investigated in detail. Adsorption kinetics, isotherms, thermodynamics, and reusability are discussed. The existence of small quantity of boron doping enhanced the surface charge density from 0.0393 to 0.2854 C/m2, which resulted in higher adsorption capacity for LG adsorption dominated by electrostatic attraction, and led to formation of silanol holes together with the -OH and -NH2 functional groups, which resulted in higher drug loading capacity for DOX adsorption dominated by hydrogen bonding. This promising result provides that boron-doped and -NH2 grafted magnetic mesoporous silica material can function as multipurpose adsorbent for various environmental applications.

Tumor microenvironment-responsive hyperbranched polymers for controlled drug delivery

Hyperbranched polymers (HBPs) have drawn great interest in the biomedical field on account of their special morphology, low viscosity, self-regulation, and facile preparation methods. Moreover, their large intramolecular cavities, high biocompatibility, biodegradability, and targeting properties render them very suitable for anti-tumor drug delivery. Recently, exploiting the specific characteristics of the tumor microenvironment, a range of multifunctional HBPs responsive to the tumor microenvironment have emerged. By further introducing various types of drugs through physical embedding or chemical coupling, the resulting HBPs based delivery systems have played a crucial part in improving drug stability, increasing effective drug concentration, decreasing drug toxicity and side effects, and enhancing anti-tumor effect. Here, based on different types of tumor microenvironment stimulation signals such as pH, redox, temperature, etc., we systematically review the preparation and response mechanism of HBPs, summarize the latest advances in drug delivery applications, and analyze the challenges and future research directions for such nanomaterials in biomedical clinical applications.

PEGylated mesoporous silica core-shell redox-responsive nanoparticles for delivering paclitaxel to breast cancer cells

Controlling the drug release and restricting its presence in healthy organs is extremely valuable. In this study, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) as the core, loaded with paclitaxel (PTX), were coated with a non-porous silica shell functionalized with disulfide bonds. The nanoparticles were further coated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) via disulfide linkages. We analyzed the physicochemical properties of nanoparticles, including hydrodynamic size via Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), zeta potential, X-ray Diffraction (XRD) patterns, Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra, and imaging through Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The drug release profile in two distinct glutathione (GSH) concentrations of 2 µM and 10 µM was measured. The cellular uptake of nanoparticles by MCF-7 cell line was determined using Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM) images and flow cytometry. Furthermore, the cell viability and the capability of nanoparticles to induce apoptosis in MCF-7 cell line were studied using the MTT assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Our investigations revealed that the release of PTX from the drug delivery system was redox-responsive. Also, results indicated an elevated level of cellular uptake and efficient induction of apoptosis, underscoring the promising potential of this redox-responsive drug delivery system for breast cancer therapy.

Surface Modification of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Application in Targeted Delivery Systems of Antitumour Drugs

The problem of tumour therapy has attracted the attention of many researchers for many decades. One of the promising strategies for the development of new dosage forms to improve oncology treatment efficacy and minimise side effects is the development of nanoparticle-based targeted transport systems for anticancer drugs. Among inorganic nanoparticles, mesoporous silica deserves special attention due to its outstanding surface properties and drug-loading capability. This review analyses the various factors affecting the cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, and biocompatibility of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), constituting a key aspect in the development of safe and effective drug delivery systems. Special attention is paid to technological approaches to chemically modifying MSNs to alter their surface properties. The stimuli that regulate drug release from nanoparticles are also discussed, contributing to the effective control of the delivery process in the body. The findings emphasise the importance of modifying MSNs with different surface functional groups, bio-recognisable molecules, and polymers for their potential use in anticancer drug delivery systems.

Synthesis, analysis, and multi-faceted applications of solid wastes-derived silica nanoparticles: a comprehensive review (2010-2022)

The synthesis of silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) has emerged as an extensive area of research in the last century. Owing to their instinctive properties like modifiable mesoporous structure, high surface area, adjustable pore size, and pore volume, SiNPs could be utilized in numerous fields like chemical, biochemical, catalysis, adsorption, and pollution control. Conventionally, SiNPs are produced by tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), tetramethylorthosilicate (TMOS), and sodium silicate, which are toxic and expensive. Therefore, the development of green, cost-effective approaches for the synthesis of SiNPs is highly desirable. In this course, during the last decade, silica-rich solid wastes (rice husk, corn cob, sugarcane bagasse, palm ash, fly ash, waste glass, waste packaging materials, photonic industrial wastes, etc.) were acknowledged as economical precursors to produce green SiNPs. In this respect, the present review focuses on reviewing several solid waste materials used for the synthesis of SiNPs, their properties, and different characterization techniques used for the analysis of SiNPs. The present review also accounts for the potential applications of such green SiNPs in several fields like catalysis, adsorption, biomedical applications, and energy storage. Moreover, despite the potential applications of SiNPs, still there is a lot to explore about their synthesis and utilization. Hence, in the last section of this review, future scope, challenges, and risk assessment of SiNPs have been discussed.

Natural Biopolymers as Smart Coating Materials of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery

In recent years, the functionalization of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) with different types of responsive pore gatekeepers have shown great potential for the formulation of drug delivery systems (DDS) with minimal premature leakage and site-specific controlled release. New nanotechnological approaches have been developed with the objective of utilizing natural biopolymers as smart materials in drug delivery applications. Natural biopolymers are sensitive to various physicochemical and biological stimuli and are endowed with intrinsic biodegradability, biocompatibility, and low immunogenicity. Their use as biocompatible smart coatings has extensively been investigated in the last few years. This review summarizes the MSNs coating procedures with natural polysaccharides and protein-based biopolymers, focusing on their application as responsive materials to endogenous stimuli. Biopolymer-coated MSNs, which conjugate the nanocarrier features of mesoporous silica with the biocompatibility and controlled delivery provided by natural coatings, have shown promising therapeutic outcomes and the potential to emerge as valuable candidates for the selective treatment of various diseases.

Effects of morphology and size of nanoscale drug carriers on cellular uptake and internalization process: a review

In the field of targeted drug delivery, the effects of size and morphology of drug nanocarriers are of great importance and need to be discussed in depth. To be concise, among all the various shapes of nanocarriers, rods and tubes with a narrow cross-section are the most preferred shapes for the penetration of a cell membrane. In this regard, several studies have focused on methods to produce nanorods and nanotubes with controlled optimized size and aspect ratio (AR). Additionally, a non-spherical orientation could affect the cellular uptake process while a tangent angle of less than 45° is better at penetrating the membrane, and Ω = 90° is beneficial. Moreover, these nanocarriers show different behaviors when confronting diverse cells whose fields should be investigated in future studies. In this survey, a comprehensive classification based on carrier shape is first submitted. Then, the most commonly used methods for control over the size and shape of the carriers are reviewed. Finally, influential factors on the cellular uptake and internalization processes and related analytical methods for evaluating this process are discussed.

Recent advances in mesoporous silica nanoparticle-based targeted drug-delivery systems for cancer therapy

Targeted drug-delivery systems are a growing research topic in tumor treatment. In recent years, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have been extensively studied and applied in noninvasive and biocompatible drug-delivery systems for tumor therapy due to their outstanding advantages, which include high surface area, large pore volume, tunable pore size, easy surface modification and stable framework. The advances in the application of MSNs for anticancer drug targeting are covered and highlighted in this review, and the challenges and prospects of MSN-based targeted drug-delivery systems are discussed. This review provides new insights for researchers interested in targeted drug-delivery systems against cancer.

Relationship and improvement strategies between drug nanocarrier characteristics and hemocompatibility: What can we learn from the literature

This article discusses the various blood interactions that may occur with various types of nano drug-loading systems. Nanoparticles enter the blood circulation as foreign objects. On the one hand, they may cause a series of inflammatory reactions and immune reactions, resulting in the rapid elimination of immune cells and the reticuloendothelial system, affecting their durability in the blood circulation. On the other hand, the premise of the drug-carrying system to play a therapeutic role depends on whether they cause coagulation and platelet activation, the absence of hemolysis and the elimination of immune cells. For different forms of nano drug-carrying systems, we can find the characteristics, elements and coping strategies of adverse blood reactions that we can find in previous researches. These adverse reactions may include destruction of blood cells, abnormal coagulation system, abnormal effects of plasma proteins, abnormal blood cell behavior, adverse immune and inflammatory reactions, and excessive vascular stimulation. In order to provide help for future research and formulation work on the blood compatibility of nano drug carriers.

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles: synthesis methods and their therapeutic use-recent advances

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) are a particular example of innovative nanomaterials for the development of drug delivery systems. MSNPs have recently received more attention for biological and pharmaceutical applications due to their capability to deliver therapeutic agents. Due to their unique structure, they can function as an effective carrier for the delivery of therapeutic agents to mitigate diseases progress, reduce inflammatory responses and consequently improve cancer treatment. The potency of MSNPs for the diagnosis and management of various diseases has been studied. This literature review will take an in-depth look into the properties of various types of MSNPs (e.g. shape, particle and pore size, surface area, pore volume and surface functionalisation), and discuss their characteristics, in terms of cellular uptake, drug delivery and release. MSNPs will then be discussed in terms of their therapeutic applications (passive and active tumour targeting, theranostics, biosensing and immunostimulative), biocompatibility and safety issues. Also, emerging trends and expected future advancements of this carrier will be provided.