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Responsive mesoporous silica nanocarriers in glioma therapy: A step forward in overcoming biological barriers
Yasmeen Tarek Abdel-Maksoud1, Ahmed Helmy Abdelhaseb2, Amr Abd-Elraheem Abdo2
1Biochemistry, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Al-Sharqia Governorate, Egypt.
Abstract:
Gliomas are the most common primary tumors of the central nervous system; among them, glioblastoma multiforme stands out as the most aggressive and lethal subtype, characterized by high therapeutic resistance and frequent recurrences. Glioblastoma's complex pathology is driven by biological and molecular factors that compromise conventional therapies, including blood-brain and blood-tumor barriers, angiogenesis, immune evasion, and aberrant signaling pathways, along with genetic drivers of drug resistance. In cancer therapy, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have shown promise as nanocarriers thanks to the unique attributes of their mesostructure, including large surfaces, uniform pore sizes, high loading efficiency, and flexibility of chemical modifications. Several studies have proposed MSNs to address a number of challenges facing drug delivery in gliomas, including limited penetration across the blood-brain barrier, non-specific biodistribution, and systemic adverse reactions. Moreover, MSNs can be functionalized with tumor-targeting ligands so that cancer cells are selectively taken up, while they can also release therapeutic agents in response to internal and external stimuli, enabling controlled drug delivery within tumor microenvironments. Herein, we review the integration of the MSN-based delivery approach with advances in molecular oncology to improve clinical outcomes for glioma therapeutics, while highlighting the concerns around their limited clinical translation and potential toxicity.
Insights
Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) offer a promising approach for glioblastoma treatment by overcoming drug delivery challenges. Further research is needed to address toxicity and clinical translation concerns for these advanced glioma therapeutics.
Area of Science:
- Nanomedicine
- Oncology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Gliomas, particularly glioblastoma multiforme, are aggressive brain tumors with poor therapeutic outcomes due to biological and molecular barriers.
- Conventional therapies face challenges like the blood-brain barrier, immune evasion, and drug resistance, limiting their effectiveness.
- Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) possess advantageous properties for drug delivery, including high surface area, tunable pores, and chemical modification flexibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the application of MSN-based drug delivery systems for improving glioma therapeutics.
- To explore how MSNs can overcome challenges in delivering drugs across the blood-brain barrier and within the tumor microenvironment.
- To highlight the integration of MSNs with molecular oncology for enhanced glioma treatment outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) in glioma drug delivery.
- Analysis of MSN properties relevant to overcoming biological barriers (e.g., blood-brain barrier).
- Examination of strategies for MSN functionalization, targeted delivery, and controlled release in gliomas.
Main Results:
- MSNs show potential for enhanced drug penetration and targeted delivery in gliomal models.
- Functionalized MSNs can improve cellular uptake and enable stimuli-responsive drug release within the tumor.
- MSN-based strategies aim to mitigate systemic toxicity and improve therapeutic efficacy for brain tumors.
Conclusions:
- MSN-based drug delivery represents a promising strategy to enhance glioma treatment by addressing key therapeutic challenges.
- Further investigation into clinical translation and potential toxicity of MSNs is crucial for their successful application in glioma therapy.
- Integrating MSN delivery with advances in molecular oncology holds potential for improved patient outcomes in brain tumor treatment.
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