Recent advances in multifunctional silica-based hybrid nanocarriers for bioimaging and cancer therapy

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a considerable research focus on integrating cancer cell imaging and therapeutic functions into single nanoscale platforms for better treatment of cancer. This task could often be achieved by incorporating multiple components into a hybrid nanosystem. In this minireview, we highlight different types of silica-based hybrid nanosystems and their recent applications as integrated multifunctional platforms for cancer imaging and treatment. The discussions are divided into several sections focusing on various types of materials employed to integrate with silica, which include silica-metallic nanoparticle based hybrid nanocarriers, silica-gold nanoparticle based hybrid nanocarriers, silica-quantum dot based hybrid nanocarriers, silica-upconversion nanoparticle based hybrid nanocarriers, silica-carbon based hybrid nanocarriers, and organosilica nanocarriers. Therapeutic agents loaded in such hybrids include chemodrugs, proteins, DNA/RNA and photosensitizers. For targeted delivery into tumor sites, targeting ligands such as antibodies, peptides, aptamers, and other small molecules are grafted on the surface of the nanocarriers. At the end of the review, a brief summary and research outlook are presented. This minireview aims to provide a quick update of recent research achievements in the field.

Impact of Lanthanide Nanomaterials on Photonic Devices and Smart Applications

“…In the above pages, accent has been put on bioapplications and lighting because these two domains are among the fastest to develop, and, also because they owe a lot to lanthanide photonics. The exceptional properties of core–shell upconversion nanoparticles, including color and emission lifetime tunability, as well as their well‐mastered surface derivatization has led to breakthroughs in luminescent immunoassays, pushing the detection limits to unseen values, in multimodal cell and organ imaging, in nanoscopy, an extension of microscopy with resolution on the order of 50 nm (STED technology), in nanothermometry, in optogenetics, or in drug delivery and associated cancer therapies . It should be noted that the strong brightness of each nanoparticle is highly anticipated to achieve high signal‐to‐noise ratios in imaging‐based technologies.…”

“…The fast moving field of lanthanide‐containing luminescent nanoparticles has been the subject of many recent reviews covering subjects as diverse as fundamental properties, synthesis, biosensing, bioimaging, drug delivery and theranostics, as well as persistent luminescence nanoparticles, NIR‐emitting nanoparticles, and forensic or other applications . The present review focuses on biological/medical applications and on lighting/displays, two main sectors in which nanomaterials have brought significant advances recently.…”

Mesoporous Silica‐Based Materials with Bactericidal Properties

“…It should be emphasized that the core of the MS can serve not only as imaging tool but also acts as therapeutic function. For example, the magnetic, gold, silver, and upconversion NPs could be employed as hyperthermia, photothermal, antibacterial, and photodynamic agents . Beside the therapeutic capability of core, the mesoporous silica shell can act as excellent reservoirs to load/controlled release drugs, thus demonstrating application of the sandwich‐structured nanomaterials as promising platform for synergistic therapy.…”

“…Moreover, MSNs hold great potential in order to integrate therapeutic and diagnostic functions (such as imaging contrasting agents) within a single system to create unique structures . In this context, various nanocomposites (e.g., MSN–magnetic NPs, MSN–quantum dots, MSN–silver NPs, MSN–gold nanoparticles, and MSN–upconversion NPs) designed/fabricated for different applications that can be also used in the treatment of bacterial infection.…”

Cellular Interactions and Formation of an Epithelial “Nanocoating-Like Barrier” with Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles

“…The inorganic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have been extensively studied and further developed into various cutting-edge technologies for bio-imaging, cancer therapy, drug delivery, and solid supports of molecular or supramolecular switches owing to their unique features [1,2,3]. Plenty of in vivo studies have investigated their bio-distribution, accumulation, and clearance in certain tissues via intravenous injection [4,5,6].…”