Mini ReviewAbstract
The composite silica-based nanoparticles are prepared by various synthetic approaches. There are characterized by an enormous large particle surface. This favors the particle surface interaction with functional polymers and drugs. The data show that the conjugation of high molecule weight functional (co)polymers with the particle surface improves the particle stability and bioavailability. This increases the loading capacity of porous silica nanoparticles and the efficiency of drug delivery systems.
Keywords: Silica Nanoparticles; Particle Size; Drugs; Loading Capacity
Abbreviations: PNPs: Polymer Nanoparticles; PSiNPs: Porous Silica Nanoparticles; DDS: Drug Delivery Systems; PEG: Polyethylene Glycol; PMVA-MA: Poly Methyl Vinyl Ether-Alt-Maleic Acid; DXR: Doxorubicin; PTX: Paclitaxel; MTX: Methotrexate
Mini Review
The preparation of polymer nanoparticles (PNPs) is devoted
to the synthesis of composite nanomaterials with requested
design and structure. This reaction mechanism allow to syntheses
nanoparticles with low toxicity and high stability. Although the
potential of bare porous silica nanoparticles (PSiNPs) has already
been shown in the drug delivery systems (DDS) [1], the functionalized
particle surface to improve the biological and physicochemical
properties of the nanoparticles. The modified PNPs were observed
as efficient DDSs. The presence of covalently-bound polymer(s)
or functional groups on the PSiNPs surface not only improved the
hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of the particles, but also played a
crucial role in augmenting the aqueous dispersibility of the NPs
as a result of the electrostatic or steric repulsion forces [2] and
thus, preventing the PSiNP’s aggregation. The presence of charged
polymers and functional groups increase the zeta potential of NPs.
This is connected with a futher improvement of the NPs stability
due to the enhanced repulsion between nanoparticles [3]. The
above-mentioned synthetic processes allow to prepare particles
ranging in the size from 10 nm to several μms. The microemulsion
approach, for example, holds the nanoparticle below 50 nm.
Stober et al.‘ sol-gel widely explored process holds the
preparation of monodisperse solid inorganic particles ranging
in size 50 nm to 2 μm [4]. The researchers have widely used this
approach for the synthesis of various bare, porous and functionalized
inorganic and composite particles. The porous silica nanoparticles
were prepared by the reverse microemulsion process as reported
by Lin and co-workers [5]. This process allowed to prepare the
monodisperse dispersion compared with other approaches. PSiNPs
were successfully also prepared by the evaporation-induced selfassembly
process. The evaporation of alcohol induces the increased
concentration of surfactants and their self-assembly into micelles.
This process holds the formation of liquid-crystal mesophasee
[6]. It generates the core/shell structures with various cores and
shells. The coating (shell) holds desired type and concentration of
polymers and functional groups [7]. The type and concentration of
additives (agent precursors) are responsible for the formed particle
morphology [8]. In the case of PSiNPs the apperance of cargoes is
the result of simple incorporation of agents into the pores. The
proceeds by physical adsorption and/or by covalent bonding of
additives with the surface groups.
The particle size and morphology can be effectively controlled
by the concentration and type of additives surfactants and cosurfactants
such as alcohols, amines, inorganic salts and organic
compounds of amphiphilic properties. This is also the case with
some tetra alkoxysilanes with different alkoxy groups. The addition
of alcohols can vary the particle size due to the change in the solvent power. A widely explored additive poly(ethylene glycole)
(PEG) is used to modify the various particles including silica
NPs. The adsorbed PEG copolymers or PEG modified particles
contribute to the stabilization of particles by the steric effect.
Among the PEG-based amphiphilic copolymers belong the triblock
copolymer Pluronic F127 broadly used to prepare and stabilize
silica dispersion with the average particle size ca. 300 nm [9].
Therapeutic and drug cargoes in particle matrix is based on the
adsorption properties of PSiNPs. The PSiNPs‘ pores are able to
adsorb both hydrophilic and hydrophobic additives (drugs). The
large number of pores creates the large pore volume and so the
large loading capacity. Furthermore, their capacity can be further
increased by utilizing polymer gate keeping for the entrapment of
hydrophobic therapeutics [10].
The presence of functional particle surface groups induces their intermolecular interaction with drugs and favor the consecutive drug loading steps [11]. This loading drug mechanisms depends also on the concentration of agents or the drug feeding ratio [12]. The most important parameter of the drug loading steps is the pore volume of silica nanoparticles. The second main step of DDS is the release profile of drugs from PSiNPs. The drug release is controlled by its diffusion from the pores. This process depends on the type and amount of functional groups within the pores as well as the type of drugs. Thus, the drug release results from the intermolecular or group interactions between the discussed entities [13]. The particle surface and pores modified, for example, with functional polymers such as cationic polyethylene or anionic poly(methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic acid) (PMVE-MA) copolymer improve the colloidal stability and bio adhesive properties of PSiNPs [14]. In line with these results, there have been evidences of high uptake of negatively charged particles in different cell lines [15], despite the unfavorable interaction between them and the negatively charged cell membranes [16]. The uptake of drugs/ therapeutics is controlled by their interaction with the functional groups of surface-adsorbed polymers or copolymers.
The presence of functional polymers adsorbed on the silica particle surface increases the amount of drugs such as doxorubicin (DXR), paclitaxel (PTX), methotrexate (MTX), etc. For example, the amount of MTX on the bare PSiNPs reaches the value ~ 6.4%. On the contrary, the particles modified with PEI and PMVE-MA are characterized with the drug loading degree ~ 12.6 and 14.0%, respectively [17]. The drug-loaded particles are accumulated into tumor via enhanced permeability and retention effect [18]. This is because tumor vasculature is generally more leaky compared to normal vasculature due to rapid growth and thus nanoscale materials can be passively extravagated into the tumor interstitial. However, the lymphatic drainage system of the tumor tissue is impaired and thus the nanoparticles cannot be excluded as wastes. So, the therapeutic-loaded nanoparticles are trapped in the tumor during their blood circulation. The drug release from nanoparticles is controlled by its diffusion and it saturates the tumor tissue with therapeutics. As reported, all tumors treated with both nanoparticles and laser underwent complete necrosis by day 10 without regrowth over 90 days.
Conclusion
The porous silica-based nanoparticles are prepared by various synthetic approaches. There are characterized by an enormous large particle surface. This favor the particle surface interaction with functional polymers and later with drugs. The previous data show that the conjugation of low molecular and high molecule weight functional (co) polymers with the particle surface improves the particle stability and bioavailability. Such nanoparticles are able to intermolecular interact with drugs/therapeutics. This increases the loading capacity of PSiNPs and the efficiency of DDSs. The bare PSiNPs can be decorate with various polymers and copolymers. Their functionalization leads to efficient loading of drugs as a result of loading of cargoes into the particle cores.
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