title: Advances in silica based nanoparticles for targeted cancer therapy.
abstract: Targeted delivery of anticancer drug specifically to tumor site without damaging normal tissues has been the dream of all scientists fighting against cancer for decades. Recent breakthrough on nanotechnology based medicines has provided a possible tool to solve this puzzle. Among diverse nanomaterials that are under development and extensive study, silica based nanoparticles with vast advantages have attracted great attention. In this review, we concentrate on the recent progress using silica based nanoparticles, particularly mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), for targeted drug delivery applications. First, we discuss the passive targeting capability of silica based nanoparticles in relation to their physiochemical properties. Then, we focus on the recent advances of active targeting strategies involving tumor cell targeting, vascular targeting, nuclear targeting and multistage targeting, followed by an introduction to magnetic field directed targeting approach. We conclude with our personal perspectives on the remaining challenges and the possible future directions.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Chemotherapy has been one of the mainstays of cancer treatment. The advances in nanotechnology has allowed the development of novel carrier systems for the delivery of anticancer drugs. Mesoporous silica has shown great promise in this respect. In this review article, the authors provided a comprehensive overview of the use of this nanoparticle in both passive, as well as active targeting in the field of oncology. The advantages of this particle were further discussed.
authors.affiliation: Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Yannan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, QLD, Australia. Electronic address: c.yu@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Chengzhong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D060526:Magnetic Fields; D008280:Magnetics / Q000379:methods; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D012822:Silicon Dioxide
keywords: Active targeting; Cancer therapy; Magnetic field directed targeting; Passive targeting; Silica nanoparticles