Engineered pH-Responsive Mesoporous Carbon Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Mesoporous silica nanoparticles are widely used as drug nanocarriers.
• Developing novel nanocarriers with enhanced loading capacity and controlled release is critical for effective drug delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To functionalize mesoporous carbon particles with a pH-sensitive self-immolative polymer for drug delivery.
• To evaluate the loading capacity, pH-responsiveness, and in vivo performance of these novel nanocarriers.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis and functionalization of mesoporous carbon particles.
• Drug loading and in vitro release studies at different pH values.
• In vitro cytotoxicity assays and in vivo studies in animal models.

Main Results:

• Mesoporous carbon nanocarriers exhibited higher drug loading capacity than mesoporous silica nanoparticles.
• The nanocarriers demonstrated pH-responsive drug release, with minimal release at pH 7.4 and significant release at pH 5.
• In vivo studies confirmed minimal cargo release under physiological conditions and triggered release upon acidic pH exposure.

Conclusions:

• Functionalized mesoporous carbon particles represent promising pH-responsive drug nanocarriers.
• These nanocarriers offer potential for targeted drug delivery, particularly in acidic tumor microenvironments.
• The system shows good biocompatibility and controlled release profiles for in vivo applications.