Enhanced gene delivery by polyethyleneimine coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles

Due to large surface area, tunable pore size, easy surface manipulation, and low-toxicity mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) may act as a suitable vector for gene delivery. In order to make MSNs as a suitable gene delivery system, we modified the surface of phosphonated MSNs (PMSN) with polyethyleneimine (PEI) 10 and 25?KDa. Then nanoparticles were loaded with chloroquine (CQ) (a lysosomotropic agent) and complexed with plasmid DNA. The transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity of these nanoparticles was examined using green fluorescent protein plasmid (pGFP) and cytotoxicity assay. All PEI coated nanoparticles showed positive zeta potential and mean size was ranged between 170 and 215?nm with polydispersity index bellow 0.35. PEI-coated MSNs significiantly enhanced GFP gene expression in Neuro-2?A cells compared to PEI 10 and 25?KDa. The results of the cytotoxicity assays showed that these nanoparticles have an acceptable level of viability but CQ loaded nanoparticles showed higher cytotoxicity and lower transfection activity than CQ free nanoparticles.     

有序介孔硅胶提高难溶性药物白藜芦醇的溶出速率

本研究的目的是制备有序介孔硅胶并考察其作为难溶性药物载体的体外药物释放特点。以十六烷基三甲基溴化铵为模板合成了有序介孔硅胶, 以白藜芦醇为模型药物, 采用扫描电镜、透射电镜、N₂吸附-脱附、X-射线衍射和红外光谱对载药前后的有序介孔硅胶进行表征, 并考察药物体外释放行为。结果表明, 合成的有序介孔硅胶比表面积大、粒度均匀, 具有有序六方孔道结构, 载药后药物以无定形态或分子态存在, 释放速率明显提高。有序介孔硅胶有望成为新型的难溶性药物载体。     

Evaluation of mesoporous silica particles as drug carriers in hydrogels

Mesoporous silica particles have recently been used in the preparation of solid oral as well as dermal pharmaceutical formulations. In this work, the use of mesoporous silica of different particle size, pore size and pore volume as carrier for curcumin in hydrogels for dermal use was investigated. Oil absorption capacity of the silica, in vitro release of curcumin from formulations and chemical stability of curcumin during three months storage were evaluated. It was found that the silica particles did not alter in vitro release of curcumin compared to an emulsion. Furthermore, curcumin was found to exhibit similar or inferior stability in hydrogels containing mesoporous silica opposed to emulsions.     

Mesoporous silica formulation strategies for drug dissolution enhancement: a review

Introduction: Silica materials, in particular mesoporous silicas, have demonstrated excellent properties to enhance the oral bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. Current research in this area is focused on investigating the kinetic profile of drug release from these carriers and manufacturing approaches to scale-up production for commercial manufacture.

Areas covered: This review provides an overview of different methods utilized to load drugs onto mesoporous silica carriers. The influence of silica properties and silica pore architecture on drug loading and release are discussed. The kinetics of drug release from mesoporous silica systems is examined and the manufacturability and stability of these formulations are reviewed. Finally, the future prospects of mesoporous silica drug delivery systems are considered.

Expert opinion: Substantial progress has been made in the characterization and development of mesoporous drug delivery systems for drug dissolution enhancement. However, more research is required to fully understand the drug release kinetic profile from mesoporous silica materials. Incomplete drug release from the carrier and the possibility of drug re-adsorption onto the silica surface need to be investigated. Issues to be addressed include the manufacturability and regulation status of formulation approaches employing mesoporous silica to enhance drug dissolution. While more research is needed to support the move of this technology from the bench to a commercial medicinal product, it is a realistic prospect for the near future.     

介孔二氧化硅微球的制备及用于吲哚美辛载药与溶出性质

目的制备介孔二氧化硅微球,以期提高吲哚美辛的溶出速率。方法以表面活性剂十六烷基三甲基溴化铵和普兰尼克三嵌段共聚物P123作为双模板,用软膜板法制备具有介孔孔道的介孔二氧化硅微球药物载体,采用扫描电镜及氮气吸附-脱附手段表征载体形貌、比表面积及孔径分布。用吸附平衡挥干法载药制得吲哚美辛固体分散体,并对该固体分散体的溶出性质进行研究。结果制得的介孔二氧化硅载体由粒径相对均一的球形粒子组成。其粒径主要集中在2～5μm,载体的比表面积为502.87 m²·g2·g^(-1),孔容为2.23 cm(-1),孔容为2.23 cm³·g3·g^(-1),孔径为23.75 nm。吲哚美辛/介孔二氧化硅固体分散体的药物溶出速率与累积溶出度与吲哚美辛原料药相比均有了显著提高。结论吲哚美辛已高度分散于微球载体中,药物的溶出速率明显加快,为提高吲哚美辛生物利用度的研究打下了基础。     

Optimization of mirtazapine loaded into mesoporous silica nanostructures via Box-Behnken design: in-vitro characterization and in-vivo assessment

Employment of mesoporous silica nanostructures (MSNs) in the drug delivery field has shown a significant potential for improving the oral delivery of active pharmaceutical products with low solubility in water. Mirtazapine (MRT) is a tetracyclic antidepressant with poor water solubility (BCS Class II), which was recently approved as a potent drug used to treat severe depression. The principle of this research is to optimize the incorporation of Mirtazapine into MSNs to improve its aqueous solubility, loading efficiency, release performance, and subsequent bioavailability. The formulation was optimized by using of Box-Behnken Design, which allows simultaneous estimation of the impact of different types of silica (SBA-15, MCM-41, and Aluminate-MCM-41), a different drug to silica ratios (33.33%, 49.99%, and 66.66%), and different drug loading procedures (Incipient wetness, solvent evaporation, and solvent impregnation) on the MRT loading efficiency, aqueous solubility and dissolution rate. The optimized formula was achieved by loading MRT into SBA-15 at 33.33% drug ratio prepared by the incipient wetness method, which displayed a loading efficiency of 104.05%, water solubility of 0.2 mg/ml, and 100% dissolution rate after 30 min. The pharmacokinetic profile of the optimized formula was obtained by conducting the in-vivo study in rabbits which showed a marked improvement (2.14-fold) in oral bioavailability greater than plain MRT. The physicochemical parameters and morphology of the optimized formula were characterized by; gas adsorption manometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), polarized light microscopy (PLM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD).     

Increasing the oral bioavailability of the poorly water soluble drug itraconazole with ordered mesoporous silica

This study aims to evaluate the in vivo performance of ordered mesoporous silica (OMS) as a carrier for poorly water soluble drugs. Itraconazole was selected as model compound. Physicochemical characterization was carried out by SEM, TEM, nitrogen adsorption, DSC, TGA and in vitro dissolution. After loading itraconazole into OMS, its oral bioavailability was compared with the crystalline drug and the marketed product Sporanox^® in rabbits and dogs. Plasma concentrations of itraconazole and OH–itraconazole were determined by HPLC-UV. After administration of crystalline itraconazole in dogs (20 mg), no systemic itraconazole could be detected. Using OMS as a carrier, the AUC_0–8 was boosted to 681 ± 566 nM h. In rabbits, the AUC_0–24 increased significantly from 521 ± 159 nM h after oral administration of crystalline itraconazole (8 mg) to 1069 ± 278 nM h when this dose was loaded into OMS. T_max decreased from 9.8 ± 1.8 to 4.2 ± 1.8 h. No significant differences (AUC, C_max, and T_max) could be determined when comparing OMS with Sporanox^® in both species. The oral bioavailability of itraconazole formulated with OMS as a carrier compares well with the marketed product Sporanox^®, in rabbits as well as in dogs. OMS can therefore be considered as a promising carrier to achieve enhanced oral bioavailability for drugs with extremely low water solubility.     

Development of novel delivery system for warfarin based on mesoporous silica: adsorption characteristics of silica materials for the anticoagulant

The adsorption of the anticoagulant warfarin onto unmodified (UMS) and modified (phenyl (PhMS), methyl (MMS), mercaptopropyl (MPMS)) mesoporous silica materials was studied at pH 1.6 and 7.4 and in the temperature range of 293–325?K. The silica materials were prepared by sol-gel method for further characterization by FTIR spectroscopy, N₂ adsorption/desorption method, transmission electron microscopy and zeta potential measurements. The effects of medium pH, temperature and surface modification of mesoporous silica material on their adsorption characteristics (adsorption capacity, thermodynamic parameters of adsorption) relative to anticoagulant warfarin were investigated. It was found that medium acid–base properties strongly affect the adsorption of warfarin due to the pH-dependent structural diversity of the drug and ionization state of the silica surfaces. The adsorption capacity of the silica materials at pH 1.6 decreases in the order: MMS?>?MPMS?>?UMS?>?PhMS. The influence of various non-covalent interactions on the adsorption capacity of the silica materials and energy of the drug-silica interactions is discussed. These results may be useful for the development of a novel delivery system of warfarin.     

介孔二氧化硅纳米粒的制备及对载药与药物溶出度的影响

目的为提高水难溶性药物的分散性及溶出度,制备介孔二氧化硅纳米粒作为水难溶性药物的载体。方法探索得到简单有效地制备球状介孔二氧化硅纳米粒的工艺条件,采用扫描电镜及氮气吸附-脱附等手段分析表征载体的外观形貌,比表面积及孔径分布,并选取水难溶性药物西洛他唑作为模型药物,以溶剂浸渍挥干法载药制得药物固体分散体,采用热分析、氮气吸附-脱附曲线以及溶出度实验研究药物固体分散体的基本性质。结果制得的二氧化硅载体的形貌近球状,粒径大小分布在200～250 nm,载体的比表面积最高可达1 101.54 m2.g-1,孔径分布主要集中在3.0～4.0 nm。载药过程对西洛他唑在载体中的存在形式没有影响,固体分散体中西洛他唑的溶出度得到显著提高,当药物与载体的质量比为1∶3时,药物60 min累计溶出达85%。结论介孔二氧化硅纳米粒有望成为水难溶性药物的优良载体。     

A comparison of mesoporous silica nanoparticles and mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles as drug vehicles for cancer therapy

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are promising drug carriers for use in cancer treatment owing to their excellent biocompatibility and drug‐loading capacity. However, MSN's incomplete drug release and toxic bioaccumulation phenomena limit their clinical application. Recently, researchers have presented redox responsive mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles containing disulfide (S–S) bridges (ss‐MONs). These nanoparticles retained their ability to undergo structural degradation and increased their local release activity when exposed to reducing agents. Disulfide‐based mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles offer researchers a better option for loading chemotherapeutic drugs due to their effective biodegradability through the reduction of glutathione. Although the potential of ss‐MONs in cancer theranostics has been studied, few researchers have systematically compared ss‐MONs with MSNs with regard to endocytosis, drug release, cytotoxicity, and therapeutic effect. In this work, ss‐MONs and MSNs with equal morphology and size were designed and used to payload doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) for liver cancer chemotherapy. The ss‐MONs showed considerable degradability in the presence of glutathione and performed comparably to MSNs on biocompatibility measures, including cytotoxicity and endocytosis, as well as in drug‐loading capacity. Notably, DOX‐loaded ss‐MONs exhibited higher intracellular drug release in cancer cells and better anticancer effects in comparison with DOX‐loaded MSNs. Hence, the ss‐MONs may be more desirable carriers for a highly efficient and safe treatment of cancer.     

多功能介孔二氧化硅纳米粒在肿瘤治疗中的研究进展

介孔二氧化硅纳米粒由于较高的物理化学稳定性、易于官能化、低毒性以及对许多不同类型治疗剂的巨大负载能力,涉及了化学药物治疗、光热治疗、光动力治疗以及联合治疗,在肿瘤治疗方面受到极大的关注和广泛的研究探索。本文介绍了近年来基于介孔二氧化硅纳米粒作为载体在肿瘤治疗方面的一些研究报道,这些智能化的多功能性已经促使介孔二氧化硅纳米粒成为将来用于临床的非常有前途的药物纳米载体。     

Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drug delivery properties on cotton fabric using betamethasone-loaded mesoporous silica particles stabilized with chitosan and silicone softener

In this study, mesoporous silica particles with a hexagonal structure (SBA-15) were synthesized and modified with (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane, and used as a carrier for anti-inflammatory drug, betamethasone sodium phosphate. Drug-loaded silica particles were grafted on the cotton fabric surface using chitosan and polysiloxane reactive softener as a soft and safe fixing agent to develop an antibacterial cotton fabric with drug delivery properties. Cytometry assays revealed that synthesized silica have no cytotoxicity against human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Accordingly, the produced drug-loaded nanostructures can be applied via different routes, such as wound dressing. Drug delivery profile of the treated fabrics were investigated and compared. The drug release rate followed the conventional Higuchi model. The treated cotton fabrics were tested and evaluated using scanning electron microscope images, bending length, air permeability, washing durability and anti-bacterial properties. It was found that the chitosan-/softener-treated fabrics compounded with drug-loaded silica particles have a good drug delivery performance and exhibited a powerful antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus even after five washing cycles. The produced antibacterial cotton fabric with drug delivery properties could be proposed as a suitable material for many medical and hygienic applications.     

单分散性介孔二氧化硅的制备及靶向性评价

目的：为了制备可稳定分散的介孔二氧化硅纳米材料，并将其用于尾静脉注射的纳米制剂。方法：本文采用Stober法，以十六烷基三甲基溴化铵（CTAB）为模板剂，正硅酸乙酯（TEOS）为硅源，通过酸液萃取法去除模板，制备出分散性良好的MSN纳米粒。通过FTIR、扫描电子显微镜及透射电镜等仪器，进行结构和形貌的表征。结果：单因素实验结果可知MSN的最佳制备工艺为：CTAB/TEOS质量比为1：5，pH 10，反应温度70~80℃，搅拌速率为500 r·min^-1。MSN负载DOX，表现出高负载率；体外释放实验表明DOX在中性条件下释放缓慢，弱酸性条件下释放迅速；体内实验表明MSN具有良好的靶向性。结论：通过优化后的制备工艺，MSN可稳定分散，该制剂制备方法简单，具有pH敏感性，良好的靶向性，有利于达到肿瘤靶向给药的要求，介孔二氧化硅在靶向传递系统的应用具有广阔前景。     

以介孔硅为基质的固体分散体片剂的制备与性质考察

目的将替米沙坦与介孔硅制备成片剂,并考察片剂的稳定性。方法在处方筛选的基础上,采用粉末直接压片法压制替米沙坦-介孔硅片剂;采用高效液相色谱法测定药物含量;采用示差扫描量热、X-射线衍射和溶出法考察制剂的晶型稳定性。结果替米沙坦-介孔硅分散体66 g、交联聚乙烯吡咯烷酮30 g、微晶纤维素50 g、甘露醇50 g、硬脂酸镁4 g,混合均匀,压制成1 000片,含量均匀度和溶出度符合要求,在12个月内替米沙坦稳定性良好,且一直以无定型状态存在。结论利用自制介孔硅制备固体分散体,介孔硅的孔道使难溶性药物长期以无定型状态存在,故制剂稳定性良好。     

Polydopamine and peptide decorated doxorubicin-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles as a targeted drug delivery system for bladder cancer therapy

We reported a simple polydopamine (PDA)-based surface modification method to prepare novel targeted doxorubicin-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles and peptide CSNRDARRC conjugation (DOX-loaded MSNs@PDA-PEP) for enhancing the therapeutic effects on bladder cancer. Drug-loaded NPs were characterized in terms of size, size distribution, zeta potential, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area and drug loading content. In vitro drug release indicated that DOX-loaded MSNs@PDA and MSNs@PDA-PEP had similar release kinetic profiles of DOX. The PDA coating well controlled DOX release and was highly sensitive to pH value. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) showed that drug-loaded MSNs could be internalized by human bladder cancer cell line HT-1376, and DOX-loaded MSNs@PDA-PEP had the highest cellular uptake efficiency due to ligand–receptor recognition. The antitumor effects of DOX-loaded nanoparticles were evaluated by the MTT assay in vitro and by a xenograft tumor model in vivo, demonstrating that targeted nanocarriers DOX-loaded MSNs@PDA-PEP were significantly superior to free DOX and DOX-loaded MSNs@PDA. The novel DOX-loaded MSNs@PDA-PEP, which specifically recognized HT-1376 cells, can be used as a potential targeted drug delivery system for bladder cancer therapy.     

Controlled synthesis and size effects of multifunctional mesoporous silica nanosystem for precise cancer therapy

Nanomaterials-based drug delivery systems display potent applications in cancer therapy, owing to the enhanced permeability and retention effect and diversified chemical modification. In this study, we have tailored and synthesized different sized mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) through reactant control to investigate the relevancy of nanoparticle size toward anticancer efficacy and suppressing cancer multidrug resistance. The different sized MSNs loaded with anticancer ruthenium complex (RuPOP) and conjugated with folate acid (FA) to enhance the selectivity between cancer and normal cells. The nanosystem (Ru@MSNs) can specifically recognize HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells, thus enhance accumulation and selective cellular uptake. The smaller sized (20?nm) Ru@MSNs exhibit higher anticancer activity against HepG2 cells, while the larger sized (80?nm) Ru@MSNs exhibit higher inhibitory effect against DOX-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma cells (R-HepG2). Moreover, Ru@MSNs induced ROS overproduction in cancer cells, leading to DNA damage and p53 phosphorylation, consequently promoting cancer cells apoptosis. Ru@MSNs (80?nm) also inhibited ABCB1 and ABCG2 expression in R-HepG2 cells to prevent drug efflux, thus overcome multidrug resistance. Ru@MSNs also inhibited tumor growth in vivo without obvious toxicity in major organs of tumor-bearing nude mice. Taken together, these results verify the size effects of MSNs nanosystem for precise cancer therapy.     

Ordered mesoporous silica induces pH-independent supersaturation of the basic low solubility compound itraconazole resulting in enhanced transepithelial transport

The majority of innovative drug candidates are poorly water soluble and exhibit basic properties. This makes them highly dependent on the in vivo encountered acid–neutral pH sequence to achieve a sufficient dissolution and thus absorption. In this study, we evaluated the pH-independent generation of intraluminally induced supersaturation of the model compound itraconazole and its beneficial effect on the extent of absorption in the Caco-2 system and the rat in situ perfusion system. Local supersaturation was obtained by means of a solvent shift method and a novel formulation strategy based on ordered mesoporous silica (OMS) as a carrier. In vitro results evidenced that both methods were capable of creating a supersaturated state of itraconazole in fasted state simulated intestinal fluid (FaSSIF) when no preceding acidic dissolution was simulated. The extent of supersaturation exceeded 21.9 and 9.6 during at least 4 h for the solvent shift method and OMS as a carrier, respectively. As compared to saturation conditions (0.09 ± 0.01 μg), supersaturation induced by the solvent shift method as well as by the use of OMS increased transport across a Caco-2 cell monolayer more than 16-fold, resulting in the basolateral appearance of 2.20 ± 0.29 μg and 1.46 ± 0.03 μg itraconazole after 90 min, respectively. In the absence of an acid–neutral pH sequence, the performance of the marketed product Sporanox^® was inferior with total transport amounting to 0.12 ± 0.03 μg after 90 min. Enhanced absorption was confirmed in the in situ perfusion model where OMS was able to boost total transport of itraconazole after 60 min from 0.03 ± 0.01 nmol cm⁻¹ to 0.70 ± 0.09 nmol cm⁻¹ compared to saturated equilibrium conditions in FaSSIF. The solid dosage form Sporanox^® again failed to achieve a similar extent of absorption enhancement (0.29 ± 0.01 nmol cm⁻¹). These findings suggest that intraluminal supersaturation can be created by the use of OMS and that preceding dissolution of basic compounds in the acidic medium of the stomach is not required to allow for efficient intestinal absorption. The use of OMS appears to be a promising strategy for the delivery of especially basic low solubility compounds in patients suffering from hypochlorhydria; the pH independency may also result in a more reproducible systemic exposure.     

Effect of mesoporous silica nanoparticles on cell viability and markers of oxidative stress

Abstract

In the recent years, the use of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) has been extended in biomedical fields such as cancer therapy, drug and gene delivery, biosensors, and enzyme immobilization. Although nanomaterials are currently being widely used in modern technology, there is a lack of information regarding to the health and environmental implications of manufactured nanomaterials. In the present study, the effects of MSNs and surface functionalized MSNs on cell viability, markers of oxidative damages (mainly intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation), and oxidative DNA damage were investigated in vitro in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. Following exposure of these nanoparticles (1.95–1000?µg/mL) to PC12 cells for 12 and 24?h, no significant reduction of cell viability was observed compared with control. Moreover, ROS formation and oxidative DNA damage were not significantly changed by these nanoparticles even at high concentrations or prolong exposures. In conclusion, the results showed that neither MSNs nor functionalized MSNs exhibited any remarkable in vitro toxic properties in PC12 cells even at high concentration.     

Anti-miRNA21 and resveratrol-loaded polysaccharide-based mesoporous silica nanoparticle for synergistic activity in gastric carcinoma

Abstract

Anti-miR21 and resveratrol (RSV)-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) conjugated with hyaluronic acid (HA) were developed to enhance therapeutic efficacy in gastric carcinoma. The surface conjugation of HA, which acts as a targeting ligand to the overexpressed CD44 receptor on gastric cancer cells, was clearly identified by the presence of a greyish shell on the dark MSNs. Confocal laser-scanning microscopy and flow cytometry analysis showed higher cellular internalisation of HA/RSVmirNP compared to RSVmirNP. In vitro cytotoxicity and apoptosis assays confirmed the superior anticancer effect of the optimised formulation and synergistic effects of anti-miR21 and RSV in gastric cancer cells. Importantly, HA/RSVmirNP showed significant (p?<?.001) reductions in the tumour burden compared to the other group. Indeed, HA/RSVmirNP showed a threefold higher tumour regression effect compared to that of free RSV and a twofold tumour regression effect compared to that of RSVmirNP, indicating its anticancer efficacy. The percentage of TUNEL-positive cells was significantly higher in HA/RSVmirNP-treated cells compared to any other group, indicating that the mechanism underlying the superior anticancer efficacy of HA/RSVmirNP included apoptosis and cell necrosis. Thus, a combination of anti-miR21 and RSV in a targeted nanocarrier might be a promising drug delivery system for gastric cancer therapy.