title: Nanostructured porous Si-based nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery.
abstract: One of the backbones in nanomedicine is to deliver drugs specifically to unhealthy cells. Drug nanocarriers can cross physiological barriers and access different tissues, which after proper surface biofunctionalization can enhance cell specificity for cancer therapy. Recent developments have highlighted the potential of mesoporous silica (PSiO(2)) and silicon (PSi) nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery. In this review, we outline and discuss the most recent advances on the applications and developments of cancer therapies by means of PSiO(2) and PSi nanomaterials. Bio-engineering and fine tuning of anti-cancer drug vehicles, high flexibility and potential for sophisticated release mechanisms make these nanostructures promising candidates for "smart" cancer therapies. As a result of their physicochemical properties they can be controllably loaded with large amounts of drugs and coupled to homing molecules to facilitate active targeting. The main emphasis of this review will be on the in vitro and in vivo studies.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Mohammad-Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Shahbazi
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Herranz
authors.forename: Hélder A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Santos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D057005:Bioengineering; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000737:chemistry; D004337:Drug Carriers; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D050997:Nanomedicine; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D016062:Porosity; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D004317:Doxorubicin; D012825:Silicon
keywords: cancer therapy; cell targeting; drug delivery; functionalization; in vitro; in vivo; mesoporous silica; mesoporous silicon; nanoparticles