Recently, nano-based cancer therapeutics have been researched and developed, with some nanomaterials showing anticancer properties. When it comes to cancer treatment, graphene quantum dots (GQDs) contain the ability to generate 1O2, a reactive oxidative species (ROS), allowing for the synergistic imaging and photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer. However, due to their small particle size, GQDs struggle to remain in the target area for long periods of time in addition to being poor drug carriers. To address this limitation of GQDs, hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (hMSNs) have been extensively researched for drug delivery applications. This project investigates the utilization and combination of biomass-derived GQDs and Stöber silica hMSNs to make graphene quantum dots-hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (GQDs-hMSNs) for fluorescent imaging and dual treatment of cancer via drug delivery and photodynamic therapy (PDT). Although the addition of hMSNs made the newly synthesized nanoparticles slightly more toxic at higher concentrations, the GQDs-hMSNs displayed excellent drug delivery using fluorescein (FITC) as a mock drug, and PDT treatment by using the GQDs as a photosensitizer (PS). Additionally, the GQDs retained their fluorescence through the surface binding to hMSNs, allowing them to still be used for cell-labeling applications.
more »
« less
Silica nanoparticle remodeling under mild conditions: versatile one step conversion of mesoporous to hollow nanoparticles with simultaneous payload loading
A binary mixture of mesoporous silica nanoparticles plus organic polyammonium additive (dye or drug) is cleanly converted upon mild heating into hollow nanoparticles. The remodeled nanoparticle shell is an organized nanoscale assembly of globular additive/silica subunits and cancer cell assays show that a loaded drug additive is bioavailable.
more »
« less
- Award ID(s):
- 2103598
- PAR ID:
- 10400553
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Nanoscale
- Volume:
- 14
- Issue:
- 47
- ISSN:
- 2040-3364
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 17514 to 17518
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
-
more » « less
Abstract Oral delivery, while a highly desirable form of nanoparticle‐drug administration, is limited by challenges associated with overcoming several biological barriers. Here, the authors study how fluorescent and poly(ethylene glycol)‐coated (PEGylated) core‐shell silica nanoparticles sized 5 to 50 nm interact with major barriers including intestinal mucus, intestinal epithelium, and stomach acid. From imaging fluorescence correlation spectroscopy studies using quasi‐total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, diffusion of nanoparticles through highly scattering mucus is progressively hindered above a critical hydrodynamic size around 20 nm. By studying Caco‐2 cell monolayers mimicking the intestinal epithelia, it is observed that ultrasmall nanoparticles below 10 nm diameter (Cornell prime dots, [C’ dots]) show permeabilities correlated with high absorption in humans from primarily enhanced passive passage through tight junctions. Particles above 20 nm diameter exclusively show active transport through cells. After establishing C’ dot stability in artificial gastric juice, in vivo oral gavage experiments in mice demonstrate successful passage through the body followed by renal clearance without protein corona formation. Results suggest C’ dots as viable candidates for oral administration to patients with a proven pathway towards clinical translation and may generate renewed interest in examining silica as a food additive and its effects on nutrition and health.
-
Achieving reversible and tunable assembly of silica nanoparticles at liquid–liquid interfaces is vital for a wide range of scientific and technological applications including sustainable subsurface energy applications, catalysis, drug delivery and material synthesis. In this study, we report the mechanisms controlling the assembly of silica nanoparticles (dia. 50 nm and 100 nm) at water–heptane and water–toluene interfaces using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) surfactant with concentrations ranging from 0.001–0.1 wt% using operando ultrasmall/small-angle X-ray scattering, cryogenic scanning electron microscopy imaging and classical molecular dynamics simulations. The results show that the assembly of silica nanoparticles at water–hydrocarbon interfaces can be tuned by controlling the concentrations of SDS. Silica nanoparticles are found to: (a) dominate the interfaces in the absence of interfacial SDS molecules, (b) coexist with SDS at the interfaces at low surfactant concentration of 0.001 wt% and (c) migrate toward the aqueous phase at a high SDS concentration of 0.1 wt%. Energetic analyses suggest that the van der Waals and electrostatic interactions between silica nanoparticles and SDS surfactants increase with SDS concentration. However, the favorable van der Waals and electrostatic interactions between the silica nanoparticles and toluene or heptane decrease with increasing SDS concentration. As a result, the silica nanoparticles migrate away from the water–hydrocarbon interface and towards bulk water at higher SDS concentrations. These calibrated investigations reveal the mechanistic basis for tuning silica nanoparticle assembly at complex interfaces.more » « less
-
more » « less
Abstract Electrospinning is a versatile method for synthesizing nanofibrous structures from nearly all polymers, offering a solution for the industrial‐scale mass production of nanomaterials in a wide range of applications. However, the continuous non‐woven structure intrinsic to electrospun fibers limits their applications, where a smaller length scale is desired. Here, we present a novel method to synthesize polymeric nanofiber‐fragments based on colloid electrospinning of polymer and sacrificial silica nanoparticles, followed by mechanical fracturing with ultrasonication. The size and hydrophobicity of silica nanoparticles are optimized for their improved integration within the polymer matrix, and the controllability of nanofiber‐fragment length by the amount of silica nanoparticle loading, down to 2 µm in length for poly(vinylidene fluoride‐trifluoroethylene) nanofibers with an average fiber diameter of approximately 100 nm, is shown. The resultant nanofiber‐fragments are shown to maintain their material properties including piezoelectric coefficients and their enhanced injectability for drug delivery application is demonstrated with an animal model.
-
more » « less
Abstract Nanocarrier and exosome encapsulation has been found to significantly increase the efficacy of targeted drug delivery while also minimizing unwanted side effects. However, the development of exosome-encapsulated drug nanocarriers is limited by low drug loading efficiencies and/or complex, time-consuming drug loading processes. Herein, we have developed an acoustofluidic device that simultaneously performs both drug loading and exosome encapsulation. By synergistically leveraging the acoustic radiation force, acoustic microstreaming, and shear stresses in a rotating droplet, the concentration, and fusion of exosomes, drugs, and porous silica nanoparticles is achieved. The final product consists of drug-loaded silica nanocarriers that are encased within an exosomal membrane. The drug loading efficiency is significantly improved, with nearly 30% of the free drug (e.g., doxorubicin) molecules loaded into the nanocarriers. Furthermore, this acoustofluidic drug loading system circumvents the need for complex chemical modification, allowing drug loading and encapsulation to be completed within a matter of minutes. These exosome-encapsulated nanocarriers exhibit excellent efficiency in intracellular transport and are capable of significantly inhibiting tumor cell proliferation. By utilizing physical forces to rapidly generate hybrid nanocarriers, this acoustofluidic drug loading platform wields the potential to significantly impact innovation in both drug delivery research and applications.
- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
-
Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1039/d2nr05528g
