Mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN)

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are synthetic inorganic materials characterized by a honeycomb-like porous structure with high surface area and tunable pore sizes (Vallet-Regí et al., 2001, https://doi.org/10.1002/1521-3773(20010119)40:2<351::AID-ANIE351>3.0.CO;2-G). While not a biological target itself, the MSN surface and pore network serve as a versatile platform for drug delivery and diagnostic imaging. The internal pores allow for high loading of various therapeutic cargos, while the external surface can be functionalized with ligands for active targeting or gatekeepers for stimuli-responsive release (Li et al., 2019, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.8b00312). MSNs are widely researched for their potential to improve the solubility and stability of hydrophobic drugs and to reduce systemic toxicity by concentrating the drug at the site of disease, particularly in oncology. Their biocompatibility and degradation profile are critical factors in their development as clinical nanomedicines (Slowing et al., 2008, https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.200700879). Furthermore, the ability to tune pore size and surface chemistry allows for the delivery of diverse molecules, including small drugs, proteins, and nucleic acids (Manzano & Vallet-Regí, 2020, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31813597/).

Other names

MSNMesoporous silicaMCM-41SBA-15Porous silica nanoparticle

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles function as nanocarriers that encapsulate therapeutic agents within their high-surface-area pore networks, protecting them from degradation and allowing for controlled, stimuli-responsive release at specific sites (Manzano & Vallet-Regí, 2020, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31813597/).