Biodegradable nanocarriers based on chitosan-modified mesoporous silica nanoparticles for delivery of methotrexate for application in breast cancer treatment

(1) Background: Nanomedicine has recently emerged as a new area of research, particularly to fight cancer. In this field, we were interested in the vectorization of pepstatin A, a peptide which does not cross cell membranes, but which is a potent inhibitor of cathepsin D, an aspartic protease particularly overexpressed in breast cancer. (2) Methods: We studied two kinds of nanoparticles. For pepstatin A delivery, mesoporous silica nanoparticles with large pores (LPMSNs) and hollow organosilica nanoparticles (HOSNPs) obtained through the sol–gel procedure were used. The nanoparticles were loaded with pepstatin A, and then the nanoparticles were incubated with cancer cells. (3) Results: LPMSNs were monodisperse with 100 nm diameter. HOSNPs were more polydisperse with diameters below 100 nm. Good loading capacities were obtained for both types of nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were endocytosed in cancer cells, and HOSNPs led to the best results for cancer cell killing. (4) Conclusions: Mesoporous silica-based nanoparticles with large pores or cavities are promising for nanomedicine applications with peptides.

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Cytotoxicity of various types of gold-mesoporous silica nanoparticles in human breast cancer cells

International Journal of Nanomedicine ◽

10.2147/ijn.s90887 ◽

2015 ◽

pp. 6075 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Guixiang Tai ◽

Guomu Liu ◽

Qiongshu Li ◽

Weihua Ni ◽

Nannan Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Mesoporous Silica ◽

Silica Nanoparticles ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Human Breast Cancer ◽

Breast Cancer Cells ◽

Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles ◽

Human Breast Cancer Cells ◽

Human Breast

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Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles as Carriers for Therapeutic Biomolecules

Pharmaceutics ◽

10.3390/pharmaceutics12050432 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 432 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Rafael R. Castillo ◽

Daniel Lozano ◽

María Vallet-Regí

Keyword(s):

Controlled Release ◽

Mesoporous Silica ◽

Nucleic Acids ◽

Cancer Treatment ◽

Silica Nanoparticles ◽

Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles ◽

Therapeutic Action ◽

The Creation

The enormous versatility of mesoporous silica nanoparticles permits the creation of a large number of nanotherapeutic systems for the treatment of cancer and many other pathologies. In addition to the controlled release of small drugs, these materials allow a broad number of molecules of a very different nature and sizes. In this review, we focus on biogenic species with therapeutic abilities (proteins, peptides, nucleic acids, and glycans), as well as how nanotechnology, in particular silica-based materials, can help in establishing new and more efficient routes for their administration. Indeed, since the applicability of those combinations of mesoporous silica with bio(macro)molecules goes beyond cancer treatment, we address a classification based on the type of therapeutic action. Likewise, as illustrative content, we highlight the most typical issues and problems found in the preparation of those hybrid nanotherapeutic materials.

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