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Updated: Nov 25, 2025
Manufacture and Drug Delivery Applications of Silk Nanoparticles
Published on: October 8, 2016
Silica-Based Nanoparticles as Drug Delivery Vehicles for Prostate Cancer Treatment
Steffi Tiburcius1, Kannan Krishnan1, Jae-Hun Yang1
1Global Innovative Centre for Advanced Nanomaterials, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment.
Abstract:
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.
Insights
Silica based nanoparticles offer a promising solution for prostate cancer (PCa) treatment by enabling targeted drug delivery and minimizing side effects. This review explores their potential in overcoming current therapeutic challenges.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Oncology
Background:
- Prostate cancer (PCa) is a leading cause of cancer mortality in men, with current treatments facing limitations due to drug non-specificity, instability, and side effects.
- Effective PCa treatment requires advanced drug delivery systems to ensure targeted therapy and reduce adverse effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the diagnosis and current treatment strategies for prostate cancer, highlighting existing challenges.
- To critically analyze the design, development, and application of silica based nanoparticles (SBNPs) for targeted PCa drug delivery.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of PCa diagnosis and treatment modalities.
- Analysis of research on pure, modified, and hybrid SBNPs for drug delivery applications in PCa.
- Evaluation of the advantages and limitations of SBNPs in PCa therapy.
Main Results:
- Silica based nanoparticles (SBNPs) offer tunable properties, high surface area, and drug loading capacity, making them versatile for drug delivery.
- SBNPs can be engineered for targeted delivery, potentially mitigating the side effects associated with conventional PCa treatments.
- Modified and hybrid SBNPs show promise in enhancing therapeutic efficacy for prostate cancer.
Conclusions:
- SBNPs represent a significant advancement in developing targeted drug delivery systems for prostate cancer.
- Further research and development of SBNPs are crucial for overcoming current treatment challenges and improving patient outcomes.
- The versatility of SBNPs allows for tailored drug delivery strategies to combat prostate cancer effectively.
