Periodic Mesoporous Organosilica Nanoparticles (PMONPs) are nanoparticles of high interest for nanomedicine applications. These nanoparticles are not composed of silica (SiO2). They belong to hybrid organic-inorganic systems. We considered using these nanoparticles for CO2 release as a contrast agent for High Intensity Focused Ultrasounds (HIFU). Three molecules (P1-P3) possessing two to four triethoxysilyl groups were synthesized through click chemistry. These molecules possess a tert-butoxycarbonyl (BOC) group whose cleavage in water at 90-100 °C releases CO2. Bis(triethoxysilyl)ethylene E was mixed with the molecules Pn (or not for P3) at a proportion of 90/10 to 75/25, and the polymerization triggered by the sol-gel procedure led to PMONPs. PMONPs were characterized by different techniques, and nanorods of 200-300 nm were obtained. These nanorods were porous at a proportion of 90/10, but non-porous at 75/25. Alternatively, molecules P3 alone led to mesoporous nanoparticles of 100 nm diameter. The BOC group was stable, but it was cleaved at pH 1 in boiling water. Molecules possessing a BOC group were successfully used for the preparation of nanoparticles for CO2 release. The BOC group was stable and we did not observe release of CO2 under HIFU at lysosomal pH of 5.5. The pH needed to be adjusted to 1 in boiling water to cleave the BOC group. Nevertheless, the concept is interesting for HIFU theranostic agents.
Keywords: CO2; HIFU; cancer; periodic mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles.