Gated mesoporous silica nanoparticles for the controlled delivery of drugs in cancer cells

Langmuir. 2015 Mar 31;31(12):3753-62. doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5b00139. Epub 2015 Mar 16.

Abstract

In recent years, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have been used as effective supports for the development of controlled-release nanodevices that are able to act as multifunctional delivery platforms for the encapsulation of therapeutic agents, enhancing their bioavailability and overcoming common issues such as poor water solubility and poor stability of some drugs. In particular, redox-responsive delivery systems have attracted the attention of scientists because of the intracellular reductive environment related to a high concentration of glutathione (GSH). In this context, we describe herein the development of a GSH-responsive delivery system based on poly(ethylene glycol)- (PEG-) capped MSNs that are able to deliver safranin O and doxorubicin in a controlled manner. The results showed that the PEG-capped systems designed in this work can be maintained closed at low GSH concentrations, yet the cargo can be delivered when the concentration of GSH is increased. Moreover, the efficacy of the PEG-capped system in delivering the cytotoxic agent doxorubicin in cells was also demonstrated.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Delayed-Action Preparations
  • Doxorubicin / chemistry
  • Doxorubicin / pharmacology
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry*
  • Drug Design
  • Drug Liberation
  • Glutathione / metabolism
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Space / metabolism
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Oxidation-Reduction / drug effects
  • Phenazines / chemistry
  • Phenazines / pharmacology
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry
  • Porosity
  • Silicon Dioxide / chemistry*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Delayed-Action Preparations
  • Drug Carriers
  • MCM-41
  • Phenazines
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Silicon Dioxide
  • Doxorubicin
  • Glutathione
  • safranine T