Mesoporous silica nanoparticles: a smart nanosystem for management of breast cancer

Amorphous silica nanoparticles exhibit antitumor activity in triple-negative breast cancer cells

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer that is mainly treated with cytotoxic chemotherapy. However, this treatment is not always effective, and an important percentage of patients develop recurrence. Nanomaterials are emerging as alternative treatment options for various diseases, including cancer. This work reports the synthesis, characterization, antitumor activity evaluation, and sub-acute toxicity studies of two formulations based on amorphous silica nanoparticles (SiNPs). They are functionalized with 3-aminopropyltriethoxisilane (Si@NH2) and folic acid (FA; Si@FA). The results show that SiNPs reduce the viability and migration of TNBC MDA-MB-231 and 4T1 cell lines and Si@FA do not affect the growth of the mammary nonmalignant HC11 cells. In addition, Si@FA induces reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and displays antiproliferative and subsequently proapoptotic effects in MDA-MB-231 cells. Moreover, none of the SiNPs cause signs of sub-acute toxicity in mice when administered at 30 mg/kg over a month. In conclusion, these nanosystems display intrinsic antitumor activity without causing toxic in vivo effects, being a promising therapeutic alternative for TNBC.

Characterization and Dissolution Mechanism of Low-Molecular-Weight Organic Acids or Inorganic Mesoporous Particle-Based Piperine Amorphous Solid Dispersions

The objective of the current study is to prepare amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) containing piperine (PIP) by utilizing organic acid glycyrrhizic acid (GA) and inorganic disordered mesoporous silica 244FP (MSN/244FP) as carriers and to investigate their dissolution mechanism. The physicochemical properties of ASDs were characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and one-dimensional proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) studies collectively proved that strong hydrogen-bonding interactions formed between PIP and the carriers in ASDs. Additionally, molecular dynamic (MD) simulation was conducted to simulate and predict the physical stability and dissolution mechanisms of the ASDs. Interestingly, it revealed a significant increase in the dissolution of amorphous PIP in ASDs in in vitro dissolution studies. Rapid dissolution of GA in pH 6.8 medium resulted in the immediate release of PIP drugs into a supersaturated state, acting as a dissolution-control mechanism. This exhibited a high degree of fitting with the pseudo-second-order dynamic model, with an R2 value of 0.9996. Conversely, the silanol groups on the outer surface of the MSN and its porous nanostructures enabled PIP to display a unique two-step drug release curve, indicating a diffusion-controlled mechanism. This curve conformed to the Ritger-Peppas model, with an R2 > 0.9. The results obtained provide a clear evidence of the proposed transition of dissolution mechanism within the same ASD system, induced by changes in the properties of carriers in a solution medium of varying pH levels.

Plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles for microRNA delivery in cancer treatment

Plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (PELNs) are natural nanocarriers and effective delivery systems for plant microRNAs (miRNAs). These PELN-carrying plant miRNAs can regulate mammalian genes across species, thereby increasing the diversity of miRNAs in mammals and exerting multi-target effects that play a crucial role in diseases, particularly cancer. PELNs demonstrate exceptional stability, biocompatibility, and targeting capabilities that protect and facilitate the up-take and cross-kingdom communication of plant miRNAs in mammals. Primarily ingested and absorbed within the gastrointestinal tract of mammals, PELNs preferentially act on the intestine to regulate intestinal homeostasis through functional miRNA activity. The oncogenesis and progression of cancer are closely associated with disruptions in intestinal barriers, ecological imbalances, as well as secondary changes, such as abnormal inflammatory reactions caused by them. Therefore, it is imperative to investigate whether PELNs exert their anticancer effects by regulating mammalian intestinal homeostasis and inflammation. This review aims to elucidate the intrinsic crosstalk relationships and mechanisms of PELNs-mediated miRNAs in maintaining intestinal homeostasis, regulating inflammation and cancer treatment. Furthermore, serving as exceptional drug delivery systems for miRNAs molecules, PELNs offer broad prospects for future applications, including new drug research and development along with drug carrier selection within targeted drug delivery approaches for cancer therapy.

Biologics, theranostics, and personalized medicine in drug delivery systems

The progress in human disease treatment can be greatly advanced through the implementation of nanomedicine. This approach involves targeted and cell-specific therapy, controlled drug release, personalized dosage forms, wearable drug delivery, and companion diagnostics. By integrating cutting-edge technologies with drug delivery systems, greater precision can be achieved at the tissue and cellular levels through the use of stimuli-responsive nanoparticles, and the development of electrochemical sensor systems. This precision targeting - by virtue of nanotechnology - allows for therapy to be directed specifically to affected tissues while greatly reducing side effects on healthy tissues. As such, nanomedicine has the potential to transform the treatment of conditions such as cancer, genetic diseases, and chronic illnesses by facilitating precise and cell-specific drug delivery. Additionally, personalized dosage forms and wearable devices offer the ability to tailor treatment to the unique needs of each patient, thereby increasing therapeutic effectiveness and compliance. Companion diagnostics further enable efficient monitoring of treatment response, enabling customized adjustments to the treatment plan. The question of whether all the potential therapeutic approaches outlined here are viable alternatives to current treatments is also discussed. In general, the application of nanotechnology in the field of biomedicine may provide a strong alternative to existing treatments for several reasons. In this review, we aim to present evidence that, although in early stages, fully merging advanced technology with innovative drug delivery shows promise for successful implementation across various disease areas, including cancer and genetic or chronic diseases.

Folic acid conjugated poly (Amidoamine) dendrimer grafted magnetic chitosan as a smart drug delivery platform for doxorubicin: In-vitro drug release and cytotoxicity studies

This study reports the development of a magnetic and pH-responsive nanocarrier for targeted delivery and controlled release of doxorubicin (DOX). A multifunctional magnetic chitosan nanocomposite (FA-PAMAMG2-MCS) was fabricated by grafting poly(amidoamine) dendrimer and folic acid onto the MCS surface for active targeting. DOX was loaded into this core-shell bio-nanocomposite via adsorption. Structural and morphological characterization of the prepared nanomaterials was performed using XRD, FT-IR, VSM, TGA, BET, FE-SEM/EDX, and TEM techniques. Adsorption capacity of the FA-PAMAMG2-MCS was optimized by changing diverse parameters, such as pH, initial drug concentration, temperature, contact time, and adsorbent dosage. The maximum adsorption capacity for DOX was 102.85 mg g-1 at 298 K. The in-vitro drug release curve at pHs 5.6 and 7.4 manifested a faster drug release from the prepared nanocarrier in acidic environments and, conversely, a slower release in neutral environments over 48 h. The release kinetics followed Peppas-Sahlin models, showing non-Fickian behavior. Moreover, the in-vitro cytotoxicity studies against the human breast cancer (MDA-MB 231) cell line demonstrated the remarkable anticancer activity of the DOX@FA-PAMAMG2-MCS and declared its potency for nanomedicine applications. This multifunctional system could overcome limitations of conventional chemotherapeutic agents through pH-triggered drug release, enabling targeted cytotoxicity against cancer cells.

Nanomedicine-Based Drug-Targeting in Breast Cancer: Pharmacokinetics, Clinical Progress, and Challenges

Breast cancer (BC) is a malignant neoplasm that begins in the breast tissue. After skin cancer, BC is the second most common type of cancer in women. At the end of 2040, the number of newly diagnosed BC cases is projected to increase by over 40%, reaching approximately 3 million worldwide annually. The hormonal and chemotherapeutic approaches based on conventional formulations have inappropriate therapeutic effects and suboptimal pharmacokinetic responses with nonspecific targeting actions. To overcome such issues, the use of nanomedicines, including liposomes, nanoparticles, micelles, hybrid nanoparticles, etc., has gained wider attention in the treatment of BC. Smaller dimensional nanomedicine (especially 50-200 nm) exhibited improved in vivo effectiveness, such as better tissue penetration and more effective tumor suppression through enhanced retention and permeation, as well as active targeting of the drug. Additionally, nanotechnology, which further extended and developed theranostic nanomedicine by incorporating diagnostic and imaging agents in one platform, has been applied to BC. Furthermore, hybrid and theranostic nanomedicine has also been explored for gene delivery as anticancer therapeutics in BC. Moreover, the nanocarriers' size, shape, surface charge, chemical compositions, and surface area play an important role in the nanocarriers' stability, cellular absorption, cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, and toxicity. Additionally, nanomedicine clinical translation for managing BC remains a slow process. However, a few cases are being used clinically, and their progress with the current challenges is addressed in this Review. Therefore, this Review extensively discusses recent advancements in nanomedicine and its clinical challenges in BC.

Engineered exosomes-based theranostic strategy for tumor metastasis and recurrence

Metastasis-associated processes are the predominant instigator of fatalities linked to cancer, wherein the pivotal role of circulating tumor cells lies in the resurgence of malignant growth. In recent epochs, exosomes, constituents of the extracellular vesicle cohort, have garnered attention within the field of tumor theranostics owing to their inherent attributes encompassing biocompatibility, modifiability, payload capacity, stability, and therapeutic suitability. Nonetheless, the rudimentary functionalities and limited efficacy of unmodified exosomes curtail their prospective utility. In an effort to surmount these shortcomings, intricate methodologies amalgamating nanotechnology with genetic manipulation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and optical intervention present themselves as enhanced avenues to surveil and intercede in tumor metastasis and relapse. This review delves into the manifold techniques currently employed to engineer exosomes, with a specific focus on elucidating the interplay between exosomes and the metastatic cascade, alongside the implementation of tailored exosomes in abating tumor metastasis and recurrence. This review not only advances comprehension of the evolving landscape within this domain but also steers the trajectory of forthcoming investigations.

Mucoadhesive Mesoporous Silica Particles as Versatile Carriers for Doxorubicin Delivery in Cancer Therapy

Due to their structural, morphological, and behavioral characteristics (e.g., large volume and adjustable pore size, wide functionalization possibilities, excellent biocompatibility, stability, and controlled biodegradation, the ability to protect cargoes against premature release and unwanted degradation), mesoporous silica particles (MSPs) are emerging as a promising diagnostic and delivery platform with a key role in the development of next-generation theranostics, nanovaccines, and formulations. In this study, MSPs with customized characteristics in-lab prepared were fully characterized and used as carriers for doxorubicin (DOX). The drug loading capacity and the release profile were evaluated in media with different pH values, mimicking the body conditions. The release data were fitted to Higuchi, Korsmeyer-Peppas, and Peppas-Sahlin kinetic models to evaluate the release constant and the mechanism. The in vitro behavior of functionalized silica particles showed an enhanced cytotoxicity on human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells. Bio- and mucoadhesion on different substrates (synthetic cellulose membrane and porcine tissue mucosa)) and antimicrobial activity were successfully assessed, proving the ability of the OH- or the organically modified MSPs to act as antimicrobial and mucoadhesive platforms for drug delivery systems with synergistic effects.

The potential role of nanomedicine in the treatment of breast cancer to overcome the obstacles of current therapies

Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed malignant tumor among women in the world. BC is the heterogeneous tumor with different subtypes including luminal A-like, luminal B-like (HER2-/HER2+), HER2 enriched, and triple-negative BC. The therapeutic strategies including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and endocrine therapy are well developed and commonly used in the treatment of BC. However, some adverse effects of these conventional treatments limited their wide application in clinical. Therefore, it is necessary to develop more safe and more efficient individualized treatment strategies of the BC. Nanomedicine, as the most promising strategy for controlled and targeted drug delivery, is widely used in multiple aspects of cancer therapy. Importantly, accumulative evidences show that nanomedicine has achieved good outcomes in the treatment of BC and a huge amount of BC patients benefited from the nanomedicine related treatments. In this review, we summarized and discussed the major problems occurred during the administration of conventional treatment strategies for BC and the potential roles of nanomedicine in promoting the treatment efficacy of BC by overcoming obstacles of current treatment of BC.

Recent Advances in Nanomaterials of Group XIV Elements of Periodic Table in Breast Cancer Treatment

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide. The elements of group XIV in the periodic table exhibit a wide range of chemical manners. Recently, there have been remarkable developments in the field of nanobiomedical research, especially in the application of engineered nanomaterials in biomedical applications. In this review, we concentrate on the recent investigations on the antiproliferative effects of nanomaterials of the elements of group XIV in the periodic table on breast cancer cells. In this review, the data available on nanomaterials of group XIV for breast cancer treatment has been documented, providing a useful insight into tumor biology and nano-bio interactions to develop more effective nanotherapeutics for cancer patients.

Overcoming the non-kinetic activity of EGFR1 using multi-functionalized mesoporous silica nanocarrier for in vitro delivery of siRNA

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) does not respond to HER2-targeted and hormone-based medicines. Epidermal growth factor receptor 1 (EGFR1) is commonly overexpressed in up to 70% of TNBC cases, so targeting cancer cells via this receptor could emerge as a favored modality for TNBC therapy due to its target specificity. The development of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) as carriers for siRNAs remains a rapidly growing area of research. For this purpose, a multi-functionalized KIT-6 containing the guanidinium ionic liquid (GuIL), PEI and PEGylated folic acid (FA-PEG) was designed. Accordingly, KIT-6 was fabricated and modified with FA-PEG and PEI polymers attached on the surface and the GuIL placed in the mesopores. Subsequent to confirming the structure of this multi-functionalized KIT-6- based nanocarrier using TEM, SEM, AFM, BET, BJH, DLS and Zeta Potential, it was investigated for uploading and transferring the anti-EGFR1 siRNAs to the MD-MBA-231 cell line. The rate of cellular uptake, cellular localization and endolysosomal escape was evaluated based on the fluorescent intensity of FAM-labelled siRNA using flowcytometry analysis and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The 64% cellular uptake after 4 h incubation, clearly suggested the successful delivery of siRNA into the cells and, CLSM demonstrated that siRNA@[FA-PEGylated/PEI@GuIL@KIT-6] may escape endosomal entrapment after 6 h incubation. Using qPCR, quantitative evaluation of EGFR1 gene expression, a knockdown of 82% was found, which resulted in a functional change in the expression of EGFR1 targets. Co-treatment of chemotherapy drug "carboplatin" in combination with siRNA@[FA-PEGylated/PEI@GuIL@KIT-6] exhibited a remarkable cytotoxic effect in comparison to carboplatin alone.

Natural exosome-like nanovesicles from edible tea flowers suppress metastatic breast cancer via ROS generation and microbiota modulation

Although several artificial nanotherapeutics have been approved for practical treatment of metastatic breast cancer, their inefficient therapeutic outcomes, serious adverse effects, and high cost of mass production remain crucial challenges. Herein, we developed an alternative strategy to specifically trigger apoptosis of breast tumors and inhibit their lung metastasis by using natural nanovehicles from tea flowers (TFENs). These nanovehicles had desirable particle sizes (131 nm), exosome-like morphology, and negative zeta potentials. Furthermore, TFENs were found to contain large amounts of polyphenols, flavonoids, functional proteins, and lipids. Cell experiments revealed that TFENs showed strong cytotoxicities against cancer cells due to the stimulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) amplification. The increased intracellular ROS amounts could not only trigger mitochondrial damage, but also arrest cell cycle, resulting in the in vitro anti-proliferation, anti-migration, and anti-invasion activities against breast cancer cells. Further mice investigations demonstrated that TFENs after intravenous (i.v.) injection or oral administration could accumulate in breast tumors and lung metastatic sites, inhibit the growth and metastasis of breast cancer, and modulate gut microbiota. This study brings new insights to the green production of natural exosome-like nanoplatform for the inhibition of breast cancer and its lung metastasis via i.v. and oral routes.

Recent Advances in the Local Drug Delivery Systems for Improvement of Anticancer Therapy

The conventional anticancer chemotherapies not only cause serious toxic effects, but also produce resistance in tumor cells exposed to long-term therapy. Usually, the killing of metastasized cancer cells requires long-term therapy with higher drug doses, because the cancer cells develop resistance due to the induction of poly-glycoproteins (P-gps) that act as a transmembrane efflux pump to transport drugs out of the cells. During the last few decades, scientists have been exploring new anticancer drug delivery systems such as microencapsulation, hydrogels, and nanotubes to improve bioavailability, reduce drug-dose requirement, decrease multiple drug resistance, and to save normal cells as non-specific targets. Hopefully, the development of novel drug delivery vehicles (nanotubes, liposomes, supramolecules, hydrogels, and micelles) will assist to deliver drug molecules at the specific target site and reduce the undesirable side effects of anticancer therapies in humans. Nanoparticles and lipid formulations are also designed to deliver small drug payload at the desired tumor cell sites for their anticancer actions. This review will focus on the recent advances in the drug delivery systems, and their application in treating different cancer types in humans.

Silica-Based Nanoframeworks Involved Hepatocellular Carcinoma Theranostic

Silica-based nanoframeworks have been extensively studied for diagnosing and treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Several reviews have summarized the advantages and disadvantages of these nanoframeworks and their use as drug-delivery carriers. Encouragingly, these nanoframeworks, especially those with metal elements or small molecular drugs doping into the skeleton structure or modifying onto the surface of nanoparticles, could be multifunctional components participating in HCC diagnosis and treatment rather than functioning only as drug-delivery carriers. Therefore, in this work, we described the research progress of silica-based nanoframeworks involved in HCC diagnosis (plasma biomarker detection, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, photoacoustic imaging, fluorescent imaging, ultrasonography, etc.) and treatment (chemotherapy, ferroptotic therapy, radiotherapy, phototherapy, sonodynamic therapy, immunotherapy, etc.) to clarify their roles in HCC theranostics. Further, the future expectations and challenges associated with silica-based nanoframeworks were highlighted. We believe that this review will provide a comprehensive understanding for researchers to design novel, functional silica-based nanoframeworks that can effectively overcome HCC.

Advanced mesoporous silica nanocarriers in cancer theranostics and gene editing applications

Targeted nanomaterials for cancer theranostics have been the subject of an expanding volume of research studies in recent years. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are particularly attractive for such applications due to possibilities to synthesize nanoparticles (NPs) of different morphologies, pore diameters and pore arrangements, large surface areas and various options for surface functionalization. Functionalization of MSNs with different organic and inorganic molecules, polymers, surface-attachment of other NPs, loading and entrapping cargo molecules with on-desire release capabilities, lead to seemingly endless prospects for designing advanced nanoconstructs exerting multiple functions, such as simultaneous cancer-targeting, imaging and therapy. Describing composition and multifunctional capabilities of these advanced nanoassemblies for targeted therapy (passive, ligand-functionalized MSNs, stimuli-responsive therapy), including one or more modalities for imaging of tumors, is the subject of this review article, along with an overview of developments within a novel and attractive research trend, comprising the use of MSNs for CRISPR/Cas9 systems delivery and gene editing in cancer. Such advanced nanconstructs exhibit high potential for applications in image-guided therapies and the development of personalized cancer treatment.

Multiple Roles of Mesoporous Silica in Safe Pesticide Application by Nanotechnology: A Review

Pollution related to pesticides has become a global problem due to their low utilization and non-targeting application, and nanotechnology has shown great potential in promoting sustainable agriculture. Nowadays, mesoporous silica-based nanomaterials have garnered immense attention for improving the efficacy and safety of pesticides due to their distinctive advantages of low toxicity, high thermal and chemical stability, and particularly size tunability and versatile functionality. Based on the introduction of the structure and synthesis of different types of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), the multiple roles of mesoporous silica in safe pesticide application using nanotechnology are discussed in this Review: (i) as nanocarrier for sustained/controlled delivery of pesticides, (ii) as adsorbent for enrichment or removal of pesticides in aqueous media, (iii) as support of catalysts for degradation of pesticide contaminants, and (iv) as support of sensors for detection of pesticides. Several scientific issues, strategies, and mechanisms regarding the application of MSNs in the pesticide field are presented, with their future directions discussed in terms of their environmental risk assessment, in-depth mechanism exploration, and cost-benefit consideration for their continuous development. This Review will provide critical information to related researchers and may open up their minds to develop new advances in pesticide application.

Albumin-Coated Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles of Docetaxel: Preparation, Characterization, and Pharmacokinetic Evaluation

The potential of albumin-coated hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (A-HMSNs) to optimize the chemotherapeutic efficacy of docetaxel (DTX) was explored. The synthesized A-DTX-HMSNs had a nanometric size range, offered large surface area with numerous pores, and offered high drug entrapment and loading, that is, 79.18% ± 1.4% and 19.11% ± 1.30%, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry studies confirmed drug loading and the presence of albumin onto the developed systems, and the drug release followed Higuchi profile. A-HMSNs significantly enhanced the pharmacokinetic profile of DTX by eightfold vis-à-vis the pure DTX. The enhanced plasma levels (C_max, T_max, area under the curve), prolonged drug release, long circulation time, lower clearance, hemocompatability, and substantially higher drug loading offered by these nanocarriers inherit promise of a safer and efficacious formulation of DTX.

Design of Polymeric and Biocompatible Delivery Systems by Dissolving Mesoporous Silica Templates

There are many nanoencapsulation systems available today. Among all these, mesoporous silica particles (MSPs) have received great attention in the last few years. Their large surface-to-volume ratio, biocompatibility, and versatility allow the encapsulation of a wide variety of drugs inside their pores. However, their chemical instability in biological fluids is a handicap to program the precise release of the therapeutic compounds. Taking advantage of the dissolving capacity of silica, in this study, we generate hollow capsules using MSPs as transitory sacrificial templates. We show how, upon MSP coating with different polyelectrolytes or proteins, fully customized hollow shells can be produced. These capsules are biocompatible, flexible, and biodegradable, and can be decorated with nanoparticles or carbon nanotubes to endow the systems with supplementary intrinsic properties. We also fill the capsules with a fluorescent dye to demonstrate intracellular compound release. Finally, we document how fluorescent polymeric capsules are engulfed by cells, releasing their encapsulated agent during the first 96 h. In summary, here, we describe how to assemble a highly versatile encapsulation structure based on silica mesoporous cores that are completely removed from the final polymeric capsule system. These drug encapsulation systems are highly customizable and have great versatility as they can be made using silica cores of different sizes and multiple coatings. This provides capsules with unique programmable attributes that are fully customizable according to the specific needs of each disease or target tissue for the development of nanocarriers in personalized medicine.

Silica-Based Nanoparticles as Drug Delivery Vehicles for Prostate Cancer Treatment

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers and is the fifth common cause of cancer-related mortality in men. Current methods for PCa treatment are insufficient owing to the challenges related to the non-specificity, instability and side effects caused by the drugs and therapy agents. These drawbacks can be mitigated by the design of a suitable drug delivery system that can ensure targeted delivery and minimise side effects. Silica based nanoparticles (SBNPs) have emerged as one of the most versatile materials for drug delivery due to their tunable porosities, high surface area and tremendous capacity to load various sizes and chemistry of drugs. This review gives a brief overview of the diagnosis and current treatment strategies for PCa outlining their existing challenges. It critically analyzes the design, development and application of pure, modified and hybrid SBNPs based drug delivery systems in the treatment of PCa, their advantages and limitations.

MUC1 Aptamer-Capped Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Navitoclax Resistance Overcoming in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive breast cancer subtype. In the last years, navitoclax has emerged as a possible treatment for TNBC. Nevertheless, rapid navitoclax resistance onset has been observed thorough Mcl-1 overexpression. As a strategy to overcome Mcl-1-mediated resistance, herein we present a controlled drug co-delivery system based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) targeted to TNBC cells. The nanocarrier is loaded with navitoclax and the Mcl-1 inhibitor S63845 and capped with a MUC1-targeting aptamer (apMUC1-MSNs(Nav/S63845)). The apMUC1-capped nanoparticles effectively target TNBC cell lines and successfully induce apoptosis, overcoming navitoclax resistance. Moreover, navitoclax encapsulation protects platelets against apoptosis. These results point apMUC1-gated MSNs as suitable BH3 mimetics nanocarriers in the targeted treatment of MUC1-expressing TNBC.

Mesoporous Silica Platforms with Potential Applications in Release and Adsorption of Active Agents

In recent years, researchers focused their attention on mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) owing to the considerable advancements of the characterization methods, especially electron microscopy methods, which allowed for a clear visualization of the pore structure and the materials encapsulated within the pores, along with the X-ray diffraction (small angles) methods and specific surface area determination by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) technique. Mesoporous silica gained important consideration in biomedical applications thanks to its tunable pore size, high surface area, surface functionalization possibility, chemical stability, and pore nature. Specifically, the nature of the pores allows for the encapsulation and release of anti-cancer drugs into tumor tissues, which makes MSN ideal candidates as drug delivery carriers in cancer treatment. Moreover, the inner and outer surfaces of the MSN provide a platform for further functionalization approaches that could enhance the adsorption of the drug within the silica network and the selective targeting and controlled release to the desired site. Additionally, stimuli-responsive mesoporous silica systems are being used as mediators in cancer therapy, and through the release of the therapeutic agents hosted inside the pores under the action of specific triggering factors, it can selectively deliver them into tumor tissues. Another important application of the mesoporous silica nanomaterials is related to its ability to extract different hazardous species from aqueous media, some of these agents being antibiotics, pesticides, or anti-tumor agents. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the methods of MSN synthesis and related characteristics, the available surface functionalization strategies, and the most important applications of MSN in adsorption as well as release studies. Owing to the increasing antibiotic resistance, the need for developing materials for antibiotic removal from wastewaters is important and mesoporous materials already proved remarkable performances in environmental applications, including removal or even degradation of hazardous agents such as antibiotics and pesticides.

Resveratrol-loaded folate targeted lipoprotein-mimetic nanoparticles with improved cytotoxicity, antioxidant activity and pharmacokinetic profile

The aim of present study was to develop folate receptor targeted lipoprotein-mimetic nanoparticles of resveratrol (RSV). Lipoprotein-mimicking nanocarrier (RSV-FA-LNPs) comprising of phosphatidyl choline, cholesterol, stearyl amine and folic acid-tagged bovine serum albumin (FA-BSA) were prepared. Folic acid was conjugated to bovine serum albumin by amide bond at a binding rate of 9.46 ± 0.49 folate molecules per bovine serum albumin. The particle size and entrapment efficiency of the developed nanoparticles was found to be 291.37 ± 3.81 nm and 91.96 ± 1.83%, respectively. The in vitro release study depicted that developed nanocarrier prolonged the drug release till 72 h in phosphate buffer saline (pH 7.4). The anticancer potential of RSV in case of RSV-FA-LNPs was found to be substantially improved against MCF-7 cells overexpressing folate receptors compared to non-targeted nanoparticles. The pharmacokinetics studies after intravenous administration in healthy Wistar rats depicted that lipoprotein mimicking nanoparticles presented the longer circulation time (>48 h) compared to free drug which disappeared in few hours (6 h). The in vitro and preclinical findings of the present study demonstrated the applicability of lipoprotein mimicking nanocarriers for the safer and effective delivery of bioactives.

Novel Drug Delivery Systems for Loading of Natural Plant Extracts and Their Biomedical Applications

Many types of research have distinctly addressed the efficacy of natural plant metabolites used for human consumption both in cell culture and preclinical animal model systems. However, these in vitro and in vivo effects have not been able to be translated for clinical use because of several factors such as inefficient systemic delivery and bioavailability of promising agents that significantly contribute to this disconnection. Over the past decades, extraordinary advances have been made successfully on the development of novel drug delivery systems for encapsulation of plant active metabolites including organic, inorganic and hybrid nanoparticles. The advanced formulas are confirmed to have extraordinary benefits over conventional and previously used systems in the manner of solubility, bioavailability, toxicity, pharmacological activity, stability, distribution, sustained delivery, and both physical and chemical degradation. The current review highlights the development of novel nanocarrier for plant active compounds, their method of preparation, type of active ingredients, and their biomedical applications.

The role of antibody delivery formation in cancer therapy

Cancer has become one of the major threats to human survival. Because of antibodies specificity and low toxicity, it is the primary choice to diagnose and treat cancer. It is easy to be cleared from the blood circulation or distributing throughout the body and causes unnecessary side effects. It is necessary to delivery antibodies to the tumour region in a stable, safe and effective manner. In this review, we discuss the latest studies that aimed to delivery antibodies to tumour sites via several vector forms, such as liposomes, carbon nanomaterials, and gold nanomaterials. How to deliver antibodies to the target site is a difficulty for antibody therapy. This review summarises the antibody's therapeutic forms and carrier materials in recent years, and to explore how antibodies can be safely and stably delivered to the target site.

The diffusion of doxorubicin drug molecules in silica nanoslits is non-Gaussian, intermittent and anticorrelated

The motion of the confined doxorubicin drug molecule exhibits an interesting combination of anomalous diffusion features.

Functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles in anticancer therapeutics

The application of nanomedicines in tumor targeting and attaining meaningful therapeutic benefits for the treatment of cancers has been going on for almost two decades. Beyond the lipidic and polymeric nanomedicines-based passive and active targeting, the quest for inventing the new generation of carriers has no end. This has lead to the evolution of some of the unique carrier systems with supramolecular assembly structures. Mesoporous nanoparticulate systems (MSNPs) are the recently explored substances with favorable potential for drug delivery and drug targeting applications especially in cancer chemotherapeutics. Notwithstanding their physical properties that makes them a suitable carrier for cancer treatment, but their outstanding ability towards chemical functionalization helps in delivering the imaging agents for diagnostic applications. MSNPs can improve the dissolution rate and systemic availability of the poorly water soluble drugs due to their mesoporous structures. Besides, guest molecules including targeting ligands, biomimetic agents, fluorescent dyes, and biocompatible polymers can be efficiently encapsulated in their tunable porous structure for targeting purpose. Some special features of the MSNPs which make them one of the highly effective nanocarrier systems include their ability to encapsulate non-crystalline drugs in their mesopores, high dispersion ability as a function of large surface area and wetting properties. For anticancer drug delivery, MSNPs are worthful to provide excellent drug loading capacity and endocytotic behavior. Moreover, the external surface of MSNPs can be precisely modified for tumor-recognition and developing sensitivity of the antitumor agents towards the cancer cells. Owing to the innumerable applications of MSNPs till now in cancer treatment, the present article particularly focuses to provide an overview account with complete details on the topic to make the readers abreast with details on physiochemical and material properties of MSNPs, their applications and current innovations for the purpose.

Verapamil delivery systems on the basis of mesoporous ZSM-5/KIT-6 and ZSM-5/SBA-15 polymer nanocomposites as a potential tool to overcome MDR in cancer cells

ZSM-5/KIT-6 and ZSM-5/SBA-15 nanoparticles were synthesized and further modified by a post-synthesis method with (CH₂)₃SO₃H and (CH₂)₃NHCO(CH₂)₂COOH groups to optimize their drug loading and release kinetic profiles. The verapamil cargo drug was loaded by incipient wetness impregnation both on the parent and modified nanoporous supports. Nanocarriers were then coated with a three-layer polymeric shell composed of chitosan-k-carrageenan-chitosan with grafted polysulfobetaine chains. The parent and drug loaded formulations were characterized by powder XRD, N₂ physisorption, thermal analysis, AFM, DLS, TEM, ATR-FT-IR and solid state NMR spectroscopies. Loading of verapamil on such nanoporous carriers and their subsequent polymer coating resulted in a prolonged in vitro release of the drug molecules. Quantum-chemical calculations were performed to investigate the strength of the interaction between the specific functional groups of the drug molecule and (CH₂)₃SO₃H and CH₂)₃NHCO(CH₂)₂COOH groups of the drug carrier. Furthermore, the ability of the developed nanocomposites to positively modulate the intracellular internalization and thereby augment the antitumor activity of the p-gp substrate drug doxorubicin was investigated in a comparative manner vs. free drug in a panel of MDR positive (HL-60/Dox, HT-29) and MDR negative (HL-60) human cancer cell lines using the Chou-Talalay method.

Incorporation of Nitroprusside on Silica Nanoparticles-A Strategy for Safer Use of This NO Donor in Therapy

Silica-based nanoparticles have been developed as powerful platforms for drug delivery and might also prevent undesired side effects of drugs. Here, a fast method to synthesize positively charged mesoporous silica nanoparticles (ζ = 20 ± 0.5 mV, surface area = 678 m² g^-1, and 2.3 nm of porous size) was reported. This nanomaterial was employed to anchor sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a vasodilator drug with undesired cyanide release. A remarkable incorporation of 323.9 ± 7.55 μmol of SNP per gram of nanoparticle was achieved, and a series of studies of NO release were conducted, showing efficient release of NO along with major cyanide retention (ca. 64% bound to nanoparticle). Biological assays with mammalian cells showed only a slight drop in cell viability (13%) at the highest concentration (1000 μM), while SNP exhibited an LC₅₀ of 228 μM. Moreover, pharmacological studies demonstrated similar efficacy for vasodilation and sGC-PKG-VASP pathway activation when compared to SNP alone. Altogether, this new SNP silica nanoparticle has great potential as an alternative for wider and safer use of SNP in medicine with lower cyanide toxicity.

Controlled drug delivery systems for cancer based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles

The implementation of nanotechnology in medicine has opened new research horizons particularly in the field of therapeutic delivery. Mesoporous silica particles have emerged as biocompatible drug delivery systems with an enormous potential in the treatment of cancer among many other pathologies. In this review, we focus on the unique properties of these particles as chemotherapy delivery carriers. Here, we summarize the general characteristics of these nanomaterials - including their physicochemical properties and customizable surfaces - different stimuli that can be used to trigger targeted drug release, biocompatibility and finally, the drawbacks of these types of nanomaterials, highlighting some of the most important features of mesoporous silica nanoparticles in drug delivery.

New insights towards mesoporous silica nanoparticles as a technological platform for chemotherapeutic drugs delivery

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) displays interesting properties for biomedical applications such as high chemical stability, large surface area and tunable pores diameters and volumes, allowing the incorporation of large amounts of drugs, protecting them from deactivation and degradation processes acting as an excellent nanoplatform for drug delivery. However, the functional MSNs do not present the ability to transport the therapeutics without any leakage until reach the targeted cells causing side effects. On the other hand, the hydroxyls groups available on MSNs surface allows the conjugation of specific molecules which can binds to the overexpressed Enhanced Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) in many tumors, representing a potential strategy for the cancer treatment. Beyond that, the targeting molecules conjugate onto mesoporous surface increase its cell internalization and act as gatekeepers blocking the mesopores controlling the drug release. In this context, multifunctional MSNs emerge as stimuli-responsive controlled drug delivery systems (CDDS) to overcome drawbacks as low internalization, premature release before to reach the region of interest, several side effects and low effectiveness of the current treatments. This review presents an overview of MSNs fabrication methods and its properties that affects drug delivery as well as stimuli-responsive CDDS for cancer treatment.

A novel fluorescence aptasensor based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles for selective and sensitive detection of aflatoxin B1

Based on the mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN), a novel, simple and label-free aptamer biosensor was designed for the detection of aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁). Here, the aptamers were used as molecular recognition probes and "gated molecules" while Rh6G was loaded into the interior of the particles as the signal probe. In the absence of AFB₁, the "gate" was closed to prevent the leakage of the signal probe because of the immobilization of aptamers on the surface of MSN-NH₂. With the presence of AFB₁, the "gate" could be opened to release the signal probe for the specifical binding of aptamers to AFB₁. Our results showed that the fluorescence intensity was positively correlated with the concentration of AFB₁ (0.5-50 ng mL^-1), with the detection limit as low as 0.13 ng mL^-1. What's more, this design provides a new approach for rapid, sensitive and selective detection based on aptamers and it could be applied to numerous other analytes if appropriate aptamers are available.

A glucose-depleting silica nanosystem for increasing reactive oxygen species and scavenging glutathione in cancer therapy

A novel silica nanosystem is fabricated to convert intracellular glucose to hydrogen peroxide for enhancing reactive oxygen species level and triggering p-quinomethane release to scavenge glutathione, achieving synergistic anticancer treatment.

Effect of Shape on Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Oral Delivery of Indomethacin

The use of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) in the field of oral drug delivery has recently attracted greater attention. However, there is still limited knowledge about how the shape of MSNs affects drug delivery capacity. In our study, we fabricated mesoporous silica nanorods (MSNRs) to study the shape effects of MSNs on oral delivery. MSNRs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nitrogen adsorption/desorption, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and small-angle X-ray diffraction (small-angle XRD). Indomethacin (IMC), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, was loaded into MSNRs as model drug, and the drug-loaded MSNRs resulted in an excellent dissolution-enhancing effect. The cytotoxicity and in vivo pharmacokinetic studies indicated that MSNRs can be applied as a safe and efficient candidate for the delivery of insoluble drugs. The use of MSNs with a rod-like shape, as a drug delivery carrier, will extend the pharmaceutical applications of silica materials.

Factors Affecting Intracellular Delivery and Release of Hydrophilic Versus Hydrophobic Cargo from Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles on 2D and 3D Cell Cultures

Intracellular drug delivery by mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) carrying hydrophilic and hydrophobic fluorophores as model drug cargo is demonstrated on 2D cellular and 3D tumor organoid level. Two different MSN designs, chosen on the basis of the characteristics of the loaded cargo, were used: MSNs with a surface-grown poly(ethylene imine), PEI, coating only for hydrophobic cargo and MSNs with lipid bilayers covalently coupled to the PEI layer as a diffusion barrier for hydrophilic cargo. First, the effect of hydrophobicity corresponding to loading degree (hydrophobic cargo) as well as surface charge (hydrophilic cargo) on intracellular drug release was studied on the cellular level. All incorporated agents were able to release to varying degrees from the endosomes into the cytoplasm in a loading degree (hydrophobic) or surface charge (hydrophilic) dependent manner as detected by live cell imaging. When administered to organotypic 3D tumor models, the hydrophilic versus hydrophobic cargo-carrying MSNs showed remarkable differences in labeling efficiency, which in this case also corresponds to drug delivery efficacy in 3D. The obtained results could thus indicate design aspects to be taken into account for the development of efficacious intracellular drug delivery systems, especially in the translation from standard 2D culture to more biologically relevant organotypic 3D cultures.

Chick chorioallantoic membrane assay as an in vivo model to study the effect of nanoparticle-based anticancer drugs in ovarian cancer

New therapy development is critically needed for ovarian cancer. We used the chicken egg CAM assay to evaluate efficacy of anticancer drug delivery using recently developed biodegradable PMO (periodic mesoporous organosilica) nanoparticles. Human ovarian cancer cells were transplanted onto the CAM membrane of fertilized eggs, resulting in rapid tumor formation. The tumor closely resembles cancer patient tumor and contains extracellular matrix as well as stromal cells and extensive vasculature. PMO nanoparticles loaded with doxorubicin were injected intravenously into the chicken egg resulting in elimination of the tumor. No significant damage to various organs in the chicken embryo occurred. In contrast, injection of free doxorubicin caused widespread organ damage, even when less amount was administered. The lack of toxic effect of nanoparticle loaded doxorubicin was associated with specific delivery of doxorubicin to the tumor. Furthermore, we observed excellent tumor accumulation of the nanoparticles. Lastly, a tumor could be established in the egg using tumor samples from ovarian cancer patients and that our nanoparticles were effective in eliminating the tumor. These results point to the remarkable efficacy of our nanoparticle based drug delivery system and suggests the value of the chicken egg tumor model for testing novel therapies for ovarian cancer.