title: Core-shell-type magnetic mesoporous silica nanocomposites for bioimaging and therapeutic agent delivery.
abstract: Advances in nanotechnology and nanomedicine offer great opportunities for the development of nanoscaled theranostic platforms. Among various multifunctional nanocarriers, magnetic mesoporous silica nanocomposites (M-MSNs) attract prominent research interest for their outstanding properties and potential biomedical applications. This Research News article highlights recent progress in the design of core-shell-type M-MSNs for both diagnostic and therapeutic applications. First, an overview of synthetic strategies for three representative core-shell-type M-MSNs with different morphologies and structures is presented. Then, the diagnostic functions of M-MSNs is illustrated for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) applications. Next, magnetic targeted delivery and stimuli-responsive release of drugs, and effective package of DNA/siRNA inside mesopores using M-MSNs as therapeutic agent carriers are discussed. The article concludes with some important challenges that need to be overcome for further practical applications of M-MSNs in nanomedicine.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, School of Biomedical Engineering and Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China.
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hongchen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D004247:DNA
keywords: diagnosis; drug delivery; magnetic mesoporous silica nanocomposites; magnetic resonance imaging; therapy