Progress on the Multifunctional Mesoporous Silica-based Nanotheranostics

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1077.2012.12082

Abstract

Abstract:

Inorganic mesoporous nano-biomaterials have broad application potentials in molecular imaging, targeted drug delivery, tissue engineering, gene therapy, and non-invasive surgical therapy, etc., which are of great significance in the early diagnosis and efficient therapy of serious diseases such as cancer. This article reviews the most recent research advances and outlooks future development trends of mesoporous nanotheranostics based on clinical requirements, the principle of nano-synthetic chemistry and the design strategy of multifunctional mesoporous nano-biomaterials, by combining the recent achievements of our group. By integrating various functions into mesoporous silica nanoparticles to endow them with special capabilities, the mesoporous nanotheranostics could act as the contrast agents for clinical molecular imaging (magnetic resonance imaging, fluorescent imaging and the combinations of various imaging modalities), as well as the carriers for the encapsulation and delivery of drugs for the therapy of diseases (chemotherapy, gene therapy, photodynamic therapy and non-invasive surgical therapy). With the development of bio-nanotechnology and nano-synthetic chemistry, mesoporous nanotheranostics are expected to satisfy the clinical requirements following the systematic investigation of their biological effects and bio-safety, and finally find their applications in clinical practices to benefit human beings.

Key words: mesoporous, nanomaterials, nanotheranostics, biomaterials, molecular imaging, cancer, review

CLC Number:

TQ174

SHI Jian-Lin, CHEN Yu, CHEN Hang-Rong. Progress on the Multifunctional Mesoporous Silica-based Nanotheranostics[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2013, 28(1): 1-11.

Figures/Tables 8

Fig. 1 Schematic representation for the preparation of manganese oxide-dispersed MSNs (Mn-MSNs) by the oxidation- reduction strategy[38]

Fig. 2 Schematic illustration of the synthesis of oxygen-deficient fluorescent MSNs[41]

Fig. 3 (a) Luminescent excitation and (b) emission spectra of oxygen-deficient fluorescent MSNs; (c) cell labeling and (b) doxorubicin delivery by obtained fluorescent MSNs (e is the merged figure of c and d)[41]

Fig. 4 (a) Synthetic procedures of MFNEs; (b) Confocal fluorescent microscopic images of breast cancer MCF-7 cells labeled with MFNEs; (c1-c4) In vivo MRI of a tumor-bearing mouse before (c1) and after injection of MFNEs for different time intervals (c2: 0.5 h, c3: 1 h, c4: 1.5 h)[19]

Fig. 5 (a) TEM images of NaYF4:Tm/Yb/Gd@mSiO2 nanocomposites; (b) Confocol images of MCF-7 cells incubated with NaYF4:Tm/Yb/Gd@mSiO2; (c) In vivo MRI-T1 images of tumor (left: pre-injection, right: post-injection); (d) In vivo upconversion luminescence imaging of a tumor-bearing mouse after local injection at the tumor site, from left to right: bright field, upconversion luminescence and overlay images[43]

Fig. 6 (a) Microscopic structure of GMMNs; (b-d) Thermographic surveillance of photothermal heating at different time points in GMMNs -injected tumor under 1 W/cm2 (b) and 2 W/cm2 (c) irradiations and PBS solution-injected tumor under 2 W/cm2 irradiation (d); (e) Comparison of inhibition rates for MCF cells treated by GMMNs-NIR (purple), GMMNs-DOX (red) and GMMNs-DOX-NIR (green)[44]

Fig. 7 (a) Schematic illustration of the high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapeutic principle. The HIFU radiates to the targeted site of the body and the process is monitored by the outside ultrasound imaging. The ex vivo experiment was conducted using bovine liver as a radiation substrate (left digital picture) while the in vivo experiment was carried out using rabbits as a model animal (the right digital picture); (b) Coagulated tissue volume of bovine liver by the intra-tissue injection of different agents such as PBS (200 μL), PFH/PBS (200 μL), IMNCs/PBS (200 μL) and PFH-IMNCs/PBS (200 μL) under the same irradiation power and duration (150 W/cm2, 5 s; *P < 0.1, **P < 0.05). Insets in b are the macroscopic appearances of bovine liver tissues exposed to HIFU with or without using the synergistic agents[45]

Fig. 8 In vivo T1-weighted MR imaging of rabbits bearing VX2 liver tumor before (a1, b1 and c1) and after (5 min: a2, b2 and c2; 15 min: a3, b3 and c3; 30 min: a4, b4 and c4) administration of different agents (PBS: a1-a4; MCNCs/PBS: b1-b4; PFH-MCNCs/PBS: c1-c4) via ear vein. Arrows indicate the tumor. (d) T1-weighted MRI signal intensities of tumor tissue before and after intravenous administration of PFH-MCNCs/PBS (**P < 0.005); (e) In vivo coagulated necrotic tumor volume by MRI-guided HIFU exposure under the irradiation power of 150 W/cm2 and duration of 5 s in rabbit liver tumors after receiving different agents via ear vein (inset: digital pictures of tumor tissue after HIFU exposure)[18]

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