Small Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles as Carriers for Enhanced Photodynamic Therapy

Small mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs; ca. 37 nm in diameter) have a high loading capacity for a hydrophobic photosensitizer, SiPcCl₂ (82.6 % in weight), and excellent endocytosis properties. As a result, the amount of SiPcCl₂ being delivered to cancer cells is increased by approximately two orders of magnitude compared to pure SiPcCl₂ at the same dosage, and the photodynamic therapy (PDT) efficiency is enhanced by over fourfold. Our method can be widely used to increase the dosage of hydrophobic anti‐cancer drugs in cancer cells and therefore increase the cytotoxicity of the drugs.     

Cell Membrane-camouflaged Multi-functional Dendritic Large Pore Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Combined Photothermal Therapy and Radiotherapy of Cancer

Combining photothermal therapy and radiotherapy(PTT-RT) with reducing tumor hypoxia acts as an important antitumor modality. However, it is a great challenge to realize photothermal therapy, radiotherapy and exogenous oxygen supply in one nanosystem. To realize a combination of the three functions, we fabricated a red blood cell membrane(RBCm)-camouflaged, red blood cell content(RBCc) and the copper sulfide(CuS) co-loaded dendritic large pore mesoporous silica nanoparticle(DLMSN/CuS/RBCc/ RBCm). The cell membrane coating endowed the nanoparticles with good stability in the physiological environment, and CuS allowed the nanoparticle exhibiting good photothermal and radiosensitization properties. RBCc loaded nanoparticle DLMSN/CuS/RBCc enhanced superior anti-tumor effect than DLMSN/CuS during combined PTT-RT therapy because the introduction of RBCc increased the exogenous oxygen supply. The in vitro study further demonstrated that the combination of photothermal therapy and radiotherapy induced superior antitumor efficacy than single therapy. Our work thus presents a unique multifunctional nanoscale platform favorable for combined PTT and RT.     

复合介孔二氧化硅膜的制备及应用

复合介孔二氧化硅膜是近十年来发展起来的一种具有独特孔中孔结构的新型膜材料。该材料以多孔膜（无机多孔膜或者有机多孔膜）为硬模板,以表面活性剂为结构导向剂,通过溶胶-凝胶等方法将介孔二氧化硅材料组装在多孔膜的孔道中制备而成。由于其具有不同于传统介孔二氧化硅膜材料的一些独特结构和性能,并在分离、吸附和催化等领域具有广泛的应用前景,引起了人们广泛的关注。本文主要就复合介孔二氧化硅膜的制备方法,特别是近几年内其在纳滤、纳米材料的模板合成、酶的固定、传感器、反应器以及药物释放等方面最新的应用研究进展进行论述,同时对这类新型的复合介孔二氧化硅膜材料在合成和应用方面存在的问题进行了分析和总结,并对其发展前景作了展望。     

介孔SiO2负载的纳米金及其催化应用

金（Au）的催化作用已成为催化领域的前沿研究课题。本文综述了近年来采用不同方法制备介孔二氧化硅(MCM-41, MCM-48, SBA-15)负载的纳米Au催化剂以及在CO低温氧化、环己烯加氢和环己烷氧化等反应中的催化作用。讨论了影响纳米Au催化剂活性的相关因素, 包括载体的种类、表面性质、Au纳米颗粒的尺寸、分散度以及稳定性等。最后对各种制备纳米Au的方法进行了总结。     

Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Functionalized with Amino Groups for Biomedical Applications

The synthesis and characterization of amino-functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles are presented following two different synthetic methods: co-condensation and post-synthesis grafting of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. The amino groups’ distribution on the mesoporous silica nanoparticles was evaluated considering the aggregation state of a grafted photosensitizer (Verteporfin) by using spectroscopic techniques. The homogeneous distribution of amino groups within the silica network is a key factor to avoid aggregation during further organic functionalization and to optimize the performance of functionalized silica nanoparticles in biomedical applications. In addition, the formation of a protein corona on the external surface of both bare and amino-functionalized mesoporous silica was also investigated by adsorbing Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) as a model protein. The adsorption of BSA was found to be favorable, reducing the aggregation phenomena for both bare and amino-modified nanoparticles. Nevertheless, the dispersant effect of BSA was much more evident in the case of amino-modified nanoparticles, which reached monodispersion after adsorption of the protein, thus suggesting that amino-modified nanoparticles can benefit from protein corona formation for preventing severe aggregation in biological media.     

磁性核壳介孔氧化硅微球的制备与应用

磁性核壳介孔氧化硅微球作为一种新型功能复合材料,已成为众多研究领域的一个研究热点。本文综述了近年来利用模板法合成磁性核壳介孔氧化硅微球的研究进展,重点阐述了溶胶-凝胶法和微乳液法在实心微球和中空微球制备中的应用。介绍了磁性介孔二氧化硅微球在蛋白质、DNA分离,靶向药物传输等生物医学上的应用以及磁性酸催化、加氢催化、纳米贵金属催化、光催化等催化领域的应用,并对其未来的发展趋势做了展望。     

Enhanced Fluorescence Imaging and Photodynamic Cancer Therapy Using Hollow Mesoporous Nanocontainers

Here we show that “off‐on” type of photodynamic therapy agents could be developed using hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSNPs), which can be used not only for enhancing delivery of photosensitizers to cancer cells but also for enabling switchable optical properties of the photosensitizers. Fluorescence and singlet oxygen generation of the photosensitizer‐loaded HMSNP are turned off in its native state. In vitro cell studies showed that this HMSNP‐based “off‐on” agent may have potential utility in selective fluorescence detection and photodynamic therapy of cancers.     

单分散介孔氧化硅纳米颗粒的制备及其在生物材料方面的应用

单分散介孔氧化硅纳米颗粒由于其自身的优点,在当前许多领域有着广泛的应用前景。本文综述了近十几年来单分散介孔氧化硅纳米颗粒的制备方法以及在生物材料方面的应用。在制备方法方面,根据其制备机理分为稀溶液法、微乳法、模板剂法以及向反应体系中加入不同的添加剂等方法,制备出分散性好、不同形态、孔径尺寸可调的介孔氧化硅纳米颗粒。在生物材料的应用方面,主要介绍了其在药物与生物活性分子的负载与控制释放、生物大分子的固载与分离、生物标记与临床诊断等方面的应用。     

有序介孔二氧化硅纳米粒的制备及其肿瘤诊疗应用

有序介孔二氧化硅纳米粒由于具有独特的结构特征和物理化学性质,能够与磁性材料、荧光探针、抗肿瘤药物和特异性生物靶向分子等相结合,从而实现有序介孔二氧化硅纳米粒的多功能化,现已逐步应用于肿瘤的诊断和治疗等生物医学领域。本文就有序介孔二氧化硅纳米粒在制备、表面修饰及应用等几个方面的最新研究进展进行了综述。首先,重点介绍了不同pH条件下制备有序介孔二氧化硅纳米粒的方法和模板剂脱除方法,并简单归纳了各种方法的优缺点;其次,简要介绍了其表面稳定化和功能化修饰的研究现状,以及负载影像试剂和化疗药物的有序介孔二氧化硅纳米粒在肿瘤的多模成像诊断和靶向治疗中的应用进展;最后,总结了目前研究中还存在的问题并展望了其未来发展方向。     

Openwork@Dendritic Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Lactate Depletion and Tumor Microenvironment Regulation

The direct depletion of lactate accumulated in the tumor microenvironment holds promise for cancer therapy but remains challenging. Herein, we report a one-pot synthesis of openwork@ dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (ODMSNs) to address this problem. ODMSNs self-assembled through a time-resolved lamellar growth mechanism feature an openworked core and a dendritic shell, both constructed by silica nanosheets of ≈3 nm. With a large pore size, high surface area and pore volume, ODMSNs exhibited a high loading capacity (>0.7 g g⁻¹) of lactate oxidase (LOX) and enabled intratumoral lactate depletion by >99.9 %, leading to anti-angiogenesis, down-regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor, and increased tumor hypoxia. The latter event facilitates the activation of a co-delivered prodrug for enhancing anti-tumor and anti-metastasis efficacy. This study provides an innovative nano-delivery system and demonstrates the first example of direct lactate-depletion-enabled chemotherapy.     

Nanoparticles for Triple Drug Release for Combined Chemo- and Photodynamic Therapy

A pH-responsive drug delivery system (DDS) based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) has been prepared for the delivery of three anticancer drugs with different modes of action. The novelty of this system is its ability to combine synergistic chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy. A photoactive conjugate of a phthalocyanine (Pc) and a topoisomerase I inhibitor (topo-I), namely camptothecin (CPT), linked by a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chain has been synthesized and then loaded into the mesopores of MSNs. Doxorubicin (DOX), which is a topoisomerase II inhibitor (topo-II), has also been covalently anchored to the outer surface of the MSNs through a dihydrazide PEG linker. In the acidic environment of tumor cells, selective release of the three drugs takes place. In vitro studies have demonstrated the endocytosis of the system into HeLa and HepG2 cells, and the subsequent release of the three drugs into the cytoplasm and nucleus. Furthermore, the cytotoxic effect of DOX, CPT and Pc has been assessed in vitro before and upon light irradiation.     

Erianin-Loaded Photo-Responsive Dendrimer Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles: Exploration of a Psoriasis Treatment Method

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder accompanied by excessive keratinocyte proliferation. Erianin (Eri) is an ideal drug candidate for inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis in the treatment of psoriasis. However, Eri’s poor water solubility and low penetration activity across the skin hinder its application in local medicine. In this study, we developed a novel photo-responsive dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticle-based carrier to deliver erianin, improved its bioavailability, and achieved sustained-release effects. Spiropyran (SP), 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), and perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane (PFDTES) were conjugated to the outer surface, which allowed Eri to be released in response to UV radiation. The physicochemical properties of photo-responsive dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (Eri-DMSN@FSP) were characterized via multiple techniques, such as using a Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer, a high-resolution transmission electron microscope, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The anti-proliferative properties and light-triggered release of erianin-loaded photo-responsive dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles were assessed via the MTT assay and a drug release study in vitro. Erianin-loaded photo-responsive dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (UV) exhibit a significantly enhanced HaCat cell-inhibiting efficacy compared to other formulations, as demonstrated by their extremely low cell viability of 10.0% (concentration: 500 mg/mL), indicating their capability to release a drug that responds to UV radiation. The cellular uptake of photo-responsive dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (DMSN@FSP) was observed via confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). These experimental results show that Eri-DMSN@FSP could be effectively endocytosed into cells and respond to ultraviolet light to release Eri, achieving a more effective psoriasis treatment. Therefore, this drug delivery system may be a promising strategy for addressing the question of Eri’s delivery and psoriasis therapy.     

金粒子包封介孔二氧化硅杂化载药控释体系

靶向给药控释体系既可以增强药物在病灶部位的疗效, 又可以降低药物对正常部位的毒副作用. 基于介孔二氧化硅为"容器"-金纳米粒子为"开关"(MSN-AuNPs)的杂化纳米阀门体系同时具备两种纳米粒子的优良特性, 在化学、生物材料以及临床医药等多学科受到广泛关注. 本文根据刺激手段和应用功能分类, 介绍了单一功能和多重功能的MSN-AuNPs杂化纳米阀门体系的重要研究进展, 以及目前面临的挑战和今后的发展方向.     

Evaluation of Stability of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles and Their Further Formulation in Tablet Form

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles have been widely investigated as drug delivery systems. The present study evaluated physical stability of indomethacin loaded mesoporous MCM-41 nanoparticles. The size, polydispersity index, zeta-potential, and drug loading degree of nanoparticles were determined immediately after their preparation and after 6 months storage at 25°C in dry state. The results showed insignificant changes in these parameters, suggesting high stability of nanoparticles and loaded indomethacin. The nanoparticles were formulated in tablets by direct compression. The low friability indicated good resistance during handling and storage. The formulation of the nanoparticles into tablets decreased the initial release of indomethacin.     

Enhanced Inhibition of Drug-Resistant Escherichia coli by Tetracycline Hydrochloride-Loaded Multipore Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles

Drug-resistant bacterial infections exhibit a major threat to public health. Thus, exploring a novel antibacterial with efficient inhibition is urgently needed. Herein, this paper describes three types of MSNs (MSNs-FC2-R1, MSNs-FC2-R0.75, MSNs-FC2-R0.5) with controllable pore size (4–6 nm) and particle size (30–90 nm) that were successfully prepared. The MSNs were loaded with tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) for effective inhibition of Escherichia coli (ATCC25922) and TCH-resistant Escherichia coli (MQ776). Results showed that the loading capacity of TCH in three types of MSNs was as high as over 500 mg/g, and the cumulative release was less than 33% in 60 h. The inhibitory rate of MSNs-FC2-R0.5 loaded with TCH against E. coli and drug-resistant E. coli reached 99.9% and 92.9% at the concentration of MIC, respectively, compared with the other two types of MSNs or free TCH. Modified MSNs in our study showed a great application for long-term bacterial growth inhibition.     

Facile Fabrication of Well‐Dispersed Pt Nanoparticles in Mesoporous Silica with Large Open Spaces and Their Catalytic Applications

In this paper, a facile strategy is reported for the preparation of well‐dispersed Pt nanoparticles in ordered mesoporous silica (Pt@OMS) by using a hybrid mesoporous phenolic resin‐silica nanocomposite as the parent material. The phenolic resin polymer is proposed herein to be the key in preventing the aggregation of Pt nanoparticles during their formation process and making contributions both to enhance the surface area and enlarge the pore size of the support. The Pt@OMS proves to be a highly active and stable catalyst for both gas‐phase oxidation of CO and liquid‐phase hydrogenation of 4‐nitrophenol. This work might open new avenues for the preparation of noble metal nanoparticles in mesoporous silica with unique structures for catalytic applications.     

Drug Encapsulation and Release by Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles: The Effect of Surface Functional Groups

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) have been widely used as drug carriers for stimuli‐responsive drug delivery. Herein, a catalysis screening technique was adopted for analyzing the effects of chain length, terminal group, and density of disulfide‐appended functional ligands on the surface of MSNPs on drug‐loading capacity and glutathione‐triggered drug‐release kinetics. The ligand with an intermediate length (5 carbon atoms) and a bulky terminal group (cyclohexyl) that complexes with theβ‐cyclodextrin ring showed the highest drug loading capacity as well as good release kinetics. In addition, decreasing the surface coverage of the functional ligands led to an enhancement in drug release. In vitro drug‐delivery experiments on a melanoma cell line (B16‐F10) by using the functionalized MSNPs further supported the conclusion. The results obtained may serve as a general guide for developing more effective MSNP systems for drug delivery.