Construction of Boronophenylalanine-Loaded Biodegradable Periodic Mesoporous Organosilica Nanoparticles for BNCT Cancer Therapy

Abstract

Biodegradable periodic mesoporous organosilica (BPMO) has recently emerged as a promising type of mesoporous silica-based nanoparticle for biomedical applications. Like mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN), BPMO possesses a large surface area where various compounds can be attached. In this work, we attached boronophenylalanine (10BPA) to the surface and explored the potential of this nanomaterial for delivering boron-10 for use in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). This cancer therapy is based on the principle that the exposure of boron-10 to thermal neutron results in the release of a-particles that kill cancer cells. To attach 10BPA, the surface of BPMO was modified with diol groups which facilitated the efficient binding of 10BPA, yielding 10BPA-loaded BPMO (10BPA-BPMO). Surface modification with phosphonate was also carried out to increase the dispersibility of the nanoparticles. To investigate this nanomaterial’s potential for BNCT, we first used human cancer cells and found that 10BPA-BPMO nanoparticles were efficiently taken up into the cancer cells and were localized in perinuclear regions. We then used a chicken egg tumor model, a versatile and convenient tumor model used to characterize nanomaterials. After observing significant tumor accumulation, 10BPA-BPMO injected chicken eggs were evaluated by irradiating with neutron beams. Dramatic inhibition of the tumor growth was observed. These results suggest the potential of 10BPA-BPMO as a novel boron agent for BNCT.

Redox-Responsive Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Cancer Treatment: Recent Updates

“…BNCT involves irradiation of boron-10 with thermal neutrons to produce highly energetic α-particles that cause irreparable injuries in the DNA. Adapted with permission from [68]. Copyright MDPI, 2021.…”

“…Tamanoi et al recently reported an innovative approach for the treatment of tumors using biodegradable, bridged mesoporous silica NPs for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) ( Figure 12 ) [ 68 ]. BNCT involves irradiation of boron-10 with thermal neutrons to produce highly energetic α-particles that cause irreparable injuries in the DNA.…”

“…( C ) Great tumor reduction was observed in the group of irradiated NPs. Adapted with permission from [ 68 ]. Copyright MDPI, 2021.…”

The Physical Chemistry and Chemical Physics (PCCP) Section of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences in Its Publications: The First 300 Thematic Articles in the First 3 Years

“…This thematic area is associated with articles [ 12 , 15 , 20 , 21 , 26 , 50 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 , 79 , 80 , 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 , 85 , 86 , 87 , 88 , 89 , 90 , 91 , 92 , 93 , 94 , 95 , 96 , 97 , 98 , 99 , 100 , 101 ], of which there are a total of 50. In contrast to the areas already discussed above, articles of all four types are presented here ( Table 5 ), although, here, too, the Original constitutes a clear majority over the other 3 types of articles.…”

Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Modified inside and out for ON:OFF pH-Modulated Cargo Release

“…Therefore, to take full advantage of the potential of stimuli-responsive polymers, these have been grafted to the surface of more robust nanocarriers [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]. Periodically ordered mesoporous silica materials, developed at Mobil by using surfactant micelles to template the condensation of reactive silica precursors [ 36 ], have been downsized to create mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), which are used as nanoscale carriers, in particular in drug delivery applications [ 37 , 38 , 39 ]. MSNs offer numerous design advantages for the development of smart nanocarriers, including high mechanical stability, well-defined particle morphology, tunable particle diameter (from 15 nm to several hundred nanometers) [ 40 ], tunable pore size (2–8 nm in diameter) and pore geometry (ordered/worm-like), and good colloidal stability [ 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 ].…”