Construction of calcium carbonate-liposome dual-film coated mesoporous silica as a delayed drug release system for antitumor therapy

Hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles for drug formulation and delivery: Opportunities for cancer therapy

The advantages of large surface area, high volume ratio, good biocompatibility, and controllable surface functionalization make hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSNs) an ideal drug carrier. HMSNs can achieve high efficiency, targeting, and controlled release by adjusting the microstructure and surface modification of its particles, which makes it broad application prospects in the field of medical therapy, especially in cancer therapy. Numerous studies have shown that preparation method, shape, particle size, hollow inner diameter, aperture and wall thickness of the HMSNs, the characteristics of the drugs, the interaction between the drugs and the carriers, and the external environment all closely affect the drug delivery, release, and efficacy. The external environment includes temperature, pH value, light intensity, magnetic field intensity, enzyme type and concentration, etc. This review summarizes the research progress of HMSNs as carrier materials in the past five years, analyzes the existing problems in the application process and presents the development prospects of HMSNs.

Nanotechnology-Driven Delivery of Caffeine Using Ultradeformable Liposomes-Coated Hollow Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Enhanced Follicular Delivery and Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is caused by the impact of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on hair follicles, leading to progressive hair loss in men and women. In this study, we developed caffeine-loaded hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles coated with ultradeformable liposomes (ULp-Caf@HMSNs) to enhance caffeine delivery to hair follicles. Caffeine, known to inhibit DHT formation, faces challenges in skin penetration due to its hydrophilic nature. We investigated caffeine encapsulated in liposomes, hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSNs), and ultradeformable liposome-coated HMSNs to optimize drug delivery and release. For ultradeformable liposomes (ULs), the amount of polysorbate 20 and polysorbate 80 was varied. TEM images confirmed the mesoporous shell and hollow core structure of HMSNs, with a shell thickness of 25-35 nm and a hollow space of 80-100 nm. SEM and TEM analysis showed particle sizes ranging from 140-160 nm. Thermal stability tests showed that HMSNs coated with ULs exhibited a Td10 value of 325 °C and 70% residue ash, indicating good thermal stability. Caffeine release experiments indicated that the highest release occurred in caffeine-loaded HMSNs without a liposome coating. In contrast, systems incorporating ULp-Caf@HMSNs exhibited slower release rates, attributable to the dual encapsulation mechanism. Confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that ULs-coated particles penetrated deeper into the skin than non-liposome particles. MTT assays confirmed the non-cytotoxicity of all HMSN concentrations to human follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPCs). ULp-Caf@HMSNs promoted better cell viability than pure caffeine or caffeine-loaded HMSNs, highlighting enhanced biocompatibility without increased toxicity. Additionally, ULp-Caf@HMSNs effectively reduced ROS levels in DHT-damaged HFDPCs, suggesting they are promising alternatives to minoxidil for promoting hair follicle growth and reducing hair loss without increasing oxidative stress. This system shows promise for treating AGA.

Thermo-responsive composite nanoparticles based on hydroxybutyl chitosan oligosaccharide: Fabrication, stimulus release and cancer therapy

Designing thermo-responsive nanocarriers based on biopolymers is fascinating and challenging for cancer therapy. In this study, thermo-responsive composite nanoparticles (CNPs) were prepared using hydroxybutyl chitosan oligosaccharide (HBCOS) and sodium caseinate (SC) via electrostatic interactions and covalent crosslinking. The temperature-responsive behaviors of CNPs were induced by the breakage of hydrogen bonds and the shrinkage of chains in nanoparticles. The CNPs exhibited concentration-independent thermo-responsive behavior, non-adsorption aggregation, and non-hemolysis, suggesting excellent stability and thermo-sensitivity. The initial release rate and final amount of DOX released from CNPs at 42 °C were higher than that at 37 °C, showing a thermo-responsive release, which was also more prominent at lower pH. The release of DOX from CNPs followed first order kinetics based on Fickian diffusion. In vitro cytotoxicity assays confirmed the thermo-responsive antitumor activity of DOX-loaded CNPs as the HT-29 cell viability incubated with DOX-loaded CNPs at 42 °C was significantly lower than that at 37 °C. Cellular uptake experiments proved that DOX-loaded CNPs accumulated in the cytoplasm after being endocytosed and promoted DOX release by increasing environment temperature. This study generated stable thermo-sensitive CNPs based on biopolymers, which can be used as potential nanocarriers for the controlled release of anticancer drugs for cancer therapy.

Calcium Carbonate-Based Nanoplatforms for Cancer Therapeutics: Current State of Art and Future Breakthroughs

With the rapid development of nanotechnology, nanomaterials have shown immense potential for antitumor applications. Nanosized calcium carbonate (CaCO3) materials exhibit excellent biocompatibility and degradability, and have been utilized to develop platform technologies for cancer therapy. These materials can be engineered to carry anticancer drugs and functional groups that specifically target cancer cells and tissues, thereby enhancing therapeutic efficacy. Additionally, their physicochemical properties can be tailored to enable stimuli-responsive therapy and precision drug delivery. This Review consolidates recent literatures focusing on the synthesis, physicochemical properties, and multimodal antitumor therapies of CaCO3-based nanoplatforms (CBN). We also explore the current challenges and potential breakthroughs in the development of CBN for antitumor applications, providing a valuable reference for researchers in the field.

Recent Developments in CaCO3 Nano-Drug Delivery Systems: Advancing Biomedicine in Tumor Diagnosis and Treatment

Calcium carbonate (CaCO3), a natural common inorganic material with good biocompatibility, low toxicity, pH sensitivity, and low cost, has a widespread use in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries. In recent years, an increasing number of CaCO3-based nano-drug delivery systems have been developed. CaCO3 as a drug carrier and the utilization of CaCO3 as an efficient Ca2+ and CO2 donor have played a critical role in tumor diagnosis and treatment and have been explored in increasing depth and breadth. Starting from the CaCO3-based nano-drug delivery system, this paper systematically reviews the preparation of CaCO3 nanoparticles and the mechanisms of CaCO3-based therapeutic effects in the internal and external tumor environments and summarizes the latest advances in the application of CaCO3-based nano-drug delivery systems in tumor therapy. In view of the good biocompatibility and in vivo therapeutic mechanisms, they are expected to become an advancing biomedicine in the field of tumor diagnosis and treatment.

Multifunctional mesoporous silica nanoparticles for biomedical applications

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are recognized as a prime example of nanotechnology applied in the biomedical field, due to their easily tunable structure and composition, diverse surface functionalization properties, and excellent biocompatibility. Over the past two decades, researchers have developed a wide variety of MSNs-based nanoplatforms through careful design and controlled preparation techniques, demonstrating their adaptability to various biomedical application scenarios. With the continuous breakthroughs of MSNs in the fields of biosensing, disease diagnosis and treatment, tissue engineering, etc., MSNs are gradually moving from basic research to clinical trials. In this review, we provide a detailed summary of MSNs in the biomedical field, beginning with a comprehensive overview of their development history. We then discuss the types of MSNs-based nanostructured architectures, as well as the classification of MSNs-based nanocomposites according to the elements existed in various inorganic functional components. Subsequently, we summarize the primary purposes of surface-functionalized modifications of MSNs. In the following, we discuss the biomedical applications of MSNs, and highlight the MSNs-based targeted therapeutic modalities currently developed. Given the importance of clinical translation, we also summarize the progress of MSNs in clinical trials. Finally, we take a perspective on the future direction and remaining challenges of MSNs in the biomedical field.

Designing Nanoliposome-in-Natural Hydrogel Hybrid System for Controllable Release of Essential Oil in Gastrointestinal Tract: A Novel Vehicle

In this study, thyme essential oil (essential oil to total lipid: 14.23, 20, 25, and 33.33%)-burdened nanoliposomes with/without maltodextrin solution were infused with natural hydrogels fabricated using equal volumes (1:1, v/v) of pea protein (30%) and gum Arabic (1.5%) solutions. The production process of the solutions infused with gels was verified using FTIR spectroscopy. In comparison to the nanoliposome solution (NL₁) containing soybean lecithin and essential oil, the addition of maltodextrin (molar ratio of lecithin to maltodextrin: 0.80, 0.40, and 0.20 for NL₂, NL₃, and NL₄, respectively) to these solutions led to a remarkable shift in particle size (487.10-664.40 nm), negative zeta potential (23.50-38.30 mV), and encapsulation efficiency (56.25-67.62%) values. Distortions in the three-dimensional structure of the hydrogel (H2) constructed in the presence of free (uncoated) essential oil were obvious in the photographs when compared to the control (H1) consisting of a pea protein-gum Arabic matrix. Additionally, the incorporation of NL₁ caused visible deformations in the gel (HNL₁). Porous surfaces were dominant in H1 and the hydrogels (HNL₂, HNL₃, and HNL₄) containing NL₂, NL₃, and NL₄ in the SEM images. The most convenient values for functional behaviors were found in H1 and HNL₄, followed by HNL₃, HNL₂, HNL₁, and H2. This hierarchical order was also valid for mechanical properties. The prominent hydrogels in terms of essential oil delivery throughout the simulated gastrointestinal tract were HNL₂, HNL₃, and HNL₄. To sum up, findings showed the necessity of mediators such as maltodextrin in the establishment of such systems.

Fabricating a PDA-Liposome Dual-Film Coated Hollow Mesoporous Silica Nanoplatform for Chemo-Photothermal Synergistic Antitumor Therapy

In this study, we synthesized hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSNs) coated with polydopamine (PDA) and a D-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS)-modified hybrid lipid membrane (denoted as HMSNs-PDA@liposome-TPGS) to load doxorubicin (DOX), which achieved the integration of chemotherapy and photothermal therapy (PTT). Dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N₂ adsorption/desorption, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR), and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) were used to show the successful fabrication of the nanocarrier. Simultaneously, in vitro drug release experiments showed the pH/NIR-laser-triggered DOX release profiles, which could enhance the synergistic therapeutic anticancer effect. Hemolysis tests, non-specific protein adsorption tests, and in vivo pharmacokinetics studies exhibited that the HMSNs-PDA@liposome-TPGS had a prolonged blood circulation time and greater hemocompatibility compared with HMSNs-PDA. Cellular uptake experiments demonstrated that HMSNs-PDA@liposome-TPGS had a high cellular uptake efficiency. In vitro and in vivo antitumor efficiency evaluations showed that the HMSNs-PDA@liposome-TPGS + NIR group had a desirable inhibitory activity on tumor growth. In conclusion, HMSNs-PDA@liposome-TPGS successfully achieved the synergistic combination of chemotherapy and photothermal therapy, and is expected to become one of the candidates for the combination of photothermal therapy and chemotherapy antitumor strategies.

Mechano-bactericidal anisotropic particles for oral biofilm treatment

Bacterial biofilms stand for the main etiological factor of dental diseases worldwide. At present, toothpaste with bactericidal chemicals as well as abrasive materials are used as preventive care. However, chemicals...