Facile strategy for synthesis of silica/polymer hybrid hollow nanoparticles with channels

Enhancing hemocompatibility and the performance of Au@silica nanoparticles by coating with cRGD functionalized zein

Poor safety and effectiveness is an outstanding challenge in the preparation of drug delivery systems (DDS) for cancer treatment. The pursuit of the high curative effect will inevitably increase the risk of adverse side effects. Herein, a bio-safe DDS was constructed by combining the advantages of functional zein and Au doped mesoporous silica nanoparticles (Au@SiO₂) to achieve chemo-photothermal therapy. The cRGD functionalized zein (cRGD-Zein) was coated on the surface of Au@SiO₂ which effectively avoided premature leakage of paclitaxel and realized sustained drug release. Meanwhile, the high hemolysis rate (107%) of Au@SiO₂ had been significantly reduced to 4%. The anti-hemolysis mechanism of functionalized zein was explored to give a deeper understanding of the interaction between nanoparticles and RBCs. The results showed that the functional zein would change the protein conformation during the interaction with Au@SiO₂ to protect the RBCs from the damage of Au@SiO₂. And the release rate of hemoglobin was limited by the size of RBCs membrane cracks with approximately 40 nm in width and 470 nm in length. The cell cytotoxicity and uptake assays showed that the prepared DDS exhibited low tumour cell viability (35%) and enhanced uptake performance (99.3%). This work suggested that the prepared nanoparticles could serve as a promising carrier to achieve safe and efficacious tumour therapy.

Upper critical solution temperature polymer-grafted hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles for near-infrared-irradiated drug release

Near-infrared (NIR) irradiation responsive drug delivery systems have many advantages, which have attracted extensive interest from researchers. In this study, a NIR-triggered drug release system was established by grafting upper critical solution temperature (UCST) polymers on the surface of hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSNs) followed by treatment with the photothermal conversion agent indocyanine green (ICG). The as-prepared UCST polymers showed the clearing temperature of 45 °C, which were advantageous to serve as gatekeepers in the physiological environment (37 °C). Under NIR irradiation, the temperature of the solution was elevated above the clearing point due to the presence of ICG; consequently, the collapsed UCST polymer chains became more hydrophilic; this resulted in the exposure of the mesoporous channels of the HMSNs and achievement of a burst drug release. Moreover, this NIR-responsive delivery system showed good biocompatibility and high anticancer efficiency towards the MCF-7 cancer cells upon exposure to NIR irradiation. In addition, a synergistic effect of thermal and chemo treatment has been achieved by the application of NIR irradiation since cancer cells are more vulnerable to high temperatures than normal cells.

Stimuli-Responsive Polymeric Nanoparticles

There is increasing evidence that stimuli-responsive nanomaterials have become significantly critical components of modern materials design and technological developments. Recent advances in synthesis and fabrication of stimuli-responsive polymeric nanoparticles with built-in stimuli-responsive components (Part A) and surface modifications of functional nanoparticles that facilitate responsiveness (Part B) are outlined here. The synthesis and construction of stimuli-responsive spherical, core-shell, concentric, hollow, Janus, gibbous/inverse gibbous, and cocklebur morphologies are discussed in Part A, with the focus on shape, color, or size changes resulting from external stimuli. Although inorganic/metallic nanoparticles exhibit many useful properties, including thermal or electrical conductivity, catalytic activity, or magnetic properties, their assemblies and formation of higher order constructs are often enhanced by surface modifications. Section B focuses on selected surface reactions that lead to responsiveness achieved by decorating nanoparticles with stimuli-responsive polymers. Although grafting-to and grafting-from dominate these synthetic efforts, there are opportunities for developing novel synthetic approaches facilitating controllable recognition, signaling, or sequential responses. Many nanotechnologies utilize a combination of organic and inorganic phases to produce ceramic or metallic nanoparticles. One can envision the development of new properties by combining inorganic (metals, metal oxides) and organic (polymer) phases into one nanoparticle designated as "ceramers" (inorganics) and "metamers" (metallic).

Silica/organosilica cross-linked block copolymer micelles: a versatile theranostic platform

Silica/organosilica cross-linked block copolymer micelles are a novel class of hybrid materials that combine the advantages of amphiphilic block copolymers and silica/organosilica cross-linking agents into one unit. This Tutorial Review summarizes the recent progress in the design, synthesis and biomedical applications of various silica/organosilica cross-linked block copolymer micelles.

Morphology-controlled construction of hierarchical hollow hybrid SnO2@TiO2 nanocapsules with outstanding lithium storage

A novel synthesis containing microwave-assisted HCl etching reaction and precipitating reaction is employed to prepare hierarchical hollow SnO2@TiO2 nanocapsules for anode materials of Li-ion batteries. The intrinsic hollow nanostructure can shorten the lengths for both ionic and electronic transport, enlarge the electrode surface areas, and improving accommodation of the anode volume change during Li insertion/extraction cycling. The hybrid multi-elements in this material allow the volume change to take place in a stepwise manner during electrochemical cycling. In particular, the coating of TiO2 onto SnO2 can enhance the electronic conductivity of hollow SnO2 electrode. As a result, the as-prepared SnO2@TiO2 nanocapsule electrode exhibits a stably reversible capacity of 770 mA hg(-1) at 1 C, and the capacity retention can keep over 96.1% after 200 cycles even at high current rates. This approach may shed light on a new avenue for the fast synthesis of hierarchical hollow nanocapsule functional materials for energy storage, catalyst and other new applications.

Self-assembly formation of hollow Ni-Fe-O nanocage architectures by metal-organic frameworks with high-performance lithium storage

A hollow hybrid Ni-Fe-O nanomaterial (NiFe2O4) is synthesized using a precursor of metal-organic frameworks through a simple and cost-effective method. The unique hollow nanocage structures shorten the length of Li-ion diffusion. The hollow structure offers a sufficient void space, which sufficiently alleviates the mechanical stress caused by volume change. Besides, the hybrid elements allow the volume change to take place in a stepwise manner during electrochemical cycle. And thus, the hierarchical hollow NiFe2O4 nanocage electrode exhibits extraordinary electrochemical performance. The stable cyclic performance is obtained for all rates from 1 C to 10 C. Even when the current reaches 10 C, the capacity can also arrive at 652 mAhg(-1). Subsequently, a specific capacity of ca. 975 mAhg(-1) is recovered when the current rate reduces back to 1 C after 200 cycles. This strategy that derived from NMOFs may shed light on a new route for large-scale synthesis of hollow porous hybrid nanocages for energy storage, environmental remediation and other novel applications.

A versatile strategy for uniform hybrid nanoparticles and nanocapsules

A novel and versatile strategy for uniform organo-silica hybrid nanoparticles and nanocapsules was developed. The key to our strategy is the implementation of spherical star-like homopolymers and diblock copolymers with well-controlled molecular weights that form unimolecular micelles in solution as nanoreactors.

General design of hollow porous CoFe2O4 nanocubes from metal-organic frameworks with extraordinary lithium storage

Hollow porous CoFe(2)O(4) nanocubes from metal-organic frameworks were fabricated through a general facile strategy. The intrinsic hollow nanostructure can shorten the lengths for both electronic and ionic transport, enlarge the surface area of electrodes, and improve accommodation of the volume change during Li insertion/extraction cycling. The hybrid multi-elements characteristics allow the volume change to take place in a stepwise manner during the electrochemical cycle. Therefore, the as-prepared CoFe(2)O(4) electrode exhibits outstanding performance as anode materials for lithium ion batteries. The stable capacity arrives at 815 mA h g(-1) for 20 C. Subsequently, a specific capacity of ca. 1043 mA h g(-1) is recovered when the current rate reduces back to 1 C after 200 cycles. This general strategy may shed light on a new avenue for large-scale synthesis of hollow porous hybrid nanocubes via MOFs for energy storage, environmental remediation and other novel applications.

pH-responsive magnetic core-shell nanocomposites for drug delivery

Polymer-modified nanoparticles, which can load anticancer drugs such as doxorubicin (DOX), showing the release in response to a specific trigger, have been paid much attention in cancer therapy. In our study, a pH-sensitive drug-delivery system consisting of Fe3O4@mSiO2 core-shell nanocomposite (about 65 nm) and a β-thiopropionate-poly(ethylene glycol) "gatekeeper" (P2) has been successfully synthesized as a drug carrier (Fe3O4@mSiO2@P2). Because of the hydrolysis of the β-thiopropionate linker under mildly acidic conditions, Fe3O4@mSiO2@P2 shows a pH-sensitive release performance based on the slight difference between a tumor (weakly acid) and normal tissue (weakly alkaline). And before reaching the tumor site, the drug-delivery system shows good drug retention. Notably, the nanocomposites are quickly taken up by HeLa cells due to their small particle size and the poly(ethylene glycol) modification, which is significant for increasing the drug efficiency as well as the cancer therapy of the drug vehicles. The excellent biocompatibility and selective release performance of the nanocomposites combined with the magnetic targeted ability are expected to be promising in the potential application of cancer treatment.

Accurate hierarchical control of hollow crossed NiCo2O4 nanocubes for superior lithium storage

An effective approach of simultaneously coordinating etching and precipitation reactions is employed to prepare hollow crossed NiCo2O4 nanocubes as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. Firstly, amorphous hollow (NiCox)O(OH) nanoboxes form uniformly, and subsequent calcination results in the formation of NiCo2O4 nanocubes that exhibit a stable reversible capacity of 1160 mA h g(-1) at constant current density of 200 mA g(-1) with capacity retention of over 91.1% after 200 cycles. The unique hollow structure can shorten the Li-ion diffusion path, which benefits the rate of performance. Furthermore, the hollow structure offers a sufficient void space to alleviate the mechanical stress caused by volume change. Additionally, the multi-element characteristics of active materials allow the volume change to take place in a stepwise manner. Therefore, hollow crossed NiCo2O4 nanocube electrodes exhibit excellent electrochemical performance. This method is simple and of low cost, which may open a new avenue for fast synthesis of hollow crossed structural nano-functional materials for energy storage, catalysts, sensors and other new applications.

Codendrimer from polyamidoamine (PAMAM) and oligoethylene dendron as a thermosensitive drug carrier

The efficient synthesis of codendrimer PAMAM-co-OEG (PAG) and its properties in aqueous solution, including particle size and thermosensitivity, are described. PAG is synthesized with well-defined structure through the "attach to" route. In the aqueous solutions, PAG forms unimer and multimolecular aggregates with the respective particle sizes of approximately 8 and 200 nm, depending on the concentration. PAG shows thermosensitive behavior with sharp and fast transition, and the lower critical solution temperature is 38.2 °C. The suitability of codendrimer PAG as the thermosensitive carrier is evaluated with methotrexate (MTX) as the model drug. MTX is encapsulated in PAG with the drug-loading capacity of 39%, among which 30% of MTX is encapsulated in PAMAM core. The release behavior of MTX mediated by temperature is investigated with focus on the effects around the LCST of PAG.

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles: synthesis, biocompatibility and drug delivery

In the past decade, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have attracted more and more attention for their potential biomedical applications. With their tailored mesoporous structure and high surface area, MSNs as drug delivery systems (DDSs) show significant advantages over traditional drug nanocarriers. In this review, we overview the recent progress in the synthesis of MSNs for drug delivery applications. First, we provide an overview of synthesis strategies for fabricating ordered MSNs and hollow/rattle-type MSNs. Then, the in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility and biotranslocation of MSNs are discussed in relation to their chemophysical properties including particle size, surface properties, shape, and structure. The review also highlights the significant achievements in drug delivery using mesoporous silica nanoparticles and their multifunctional counterparts as drug carriers. In particular, the biological barriers for nano-based targeted cancer therapy and MSN-based targeting strategies are discussed. We conclude with our personal perspectives on the directions in which future work in this field might be focused.

Structural manipulation of colloidal silica

Structural properties of the nanosized silica Ludox TMA with novel functionalizations have been investigated. Silica is stabilized in aqueous solution at a pH value higher than the pK(a) of silicic acid. A surface modification consisting of poly(p-benzamide)s functionalized with derivatized nucleobases on the C-terminus and cationic pyridinium functions on the N-terminus of the polymer chain was carried out. Due to the negatively charged surface, strong physisorption of the cationic pyridinium functions occurs. It is possible to stabilize diluted solutions of silica without agglomeration in solvents with various polarities by using pyridinium cations. Defined structures could be created according to the hydrogen donor/acceptor potential of the introduced nucleobase. Surprisingly the interactions between the same nucleobases are already sufficient for strong particle-particle interactions. Dramatic effects on the structural behavior are characterized by PCS, (S)TEM and EFTEM.