Recent Advances in Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Targeted Drug Delivery Applications

Nanotechnology provides the means to design and fabricate delivery vehicles capable of overcoming physiologically imposed obstacles and undesirable side effects of systemic drug delivery. This protocol allows maximal targeting effectiveness and therefore enhances therapeutic efficiency. In recent years, Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles (MSNPs) have sparked interest in nanomedicine research community, particularly for their promising applications in cancer treatment. The intrinsic physio-chemical stability, facile functionalization, high surface area, low toxicity, and great loading capacity for a wide range of chemotherapeutic agents make MSNPs very appealing candidates for controllable drug delivery systems. Importantly, the peculiar nanostructures of MSNPs enabled them to serve as an effective drug, gene, protein and antigen delivery vehicle for a variety of therapeutic regimens. For these reasons, in this review article, we underscore the recent progress in the design and synthesis of MSNPs along with the parameters influencing their characteristic features and activities. In addition, the process of absorption, dissemination and secretion by injection or oral management of MSNPs are also discussed, as they are key directions for potential utilization of MSNPs. Factors influencing the in vivo fate of MSNPs will also be highlighted, with a main focus on particle size, morphology, porosity, surface functionality and oxidation. Given that combining other functional materials with MSNPs may increase their biological compatibility, monitor drug discharge, or improve absorption by tumor cells coated MSNPs; these aspects are also covered and discussed herein.