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.

Glycyrrhetinic Acid-Functionalized Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for the Co-Delivery of DOX/CPT-PEG for Targeting HepG2 Cells.

A pH-triggered mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN)-based nano-vehicle for the dual delivery of doxorubicin (DOX)/camptothecin-PEG (CPT-PEG) has been prepared. To enhance its selectivity, the nanoparticles were decorated with glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) to target HepG2 cells. The highly insoluble CPT was derivatized with a reductive-cleavable PEG chain to improve its loading within the MSN.

Isothiocyanate-Functionalized Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles as Building Blocks for the Design of Nanovehicles with Optimized Drug Release Profile.

A straightforward methodology for the synthesis of isothiocyanate-functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) by exposure of aminated MSNs to 1,1'-thiocarbonyldi-2(1)-pyridone is reported. These nanoparticles are chemically stable, water tolerant, and readily react with primary amines without the formation of any by-product. This feature allows the easy modification of the surface of the nanoparticles for tuning their physical properties and the introduction of gatekeepers on the pore outlets.

Preparation of a mesoporous silica-based nano-vehicle for dual DOX/CPT pH-triggered delivery.

A dual doxorubicin/camptothecin (DOX/CPT) pH-triggered drug delivery mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN)-based nano-vehicle has been prepared. In this drug-delivery system (DDS), CPT is loaded inside the pores of the MSNs, while DOX is covalently attached to the surface of an aldehyde-functionalized MSN through a dihydrazide-polyethylene glycol chain. Thus, DOX and the linker act as pH-sensitive gatekeeper.