In the past decade, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have attracted more and more attention for their potential biomedical applications. With their tailored mesoporous structure and high surface area, MSNs as drug delivery systems (DDSs) show significant advantages over traditional drug nanocarriers. In this review, we overview the recent progress in the synthesis of MSNs for drug delivery applications. First, we provide an overview of synthesis strategies for fabricating ordered MSNs and hollow/rattle-type MSNs. Then, the in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility and biotranslocation of MSNs are discussed in relation to their chemophysical properties including particle size, surface properties, shape, and structure. The review also highlights the significant achievements in drug delivery using mesoporous silica nanoparticles and their multifunctional counterparts as drug carriers. In particular, the biological barriers for nano-based targeted cancer therapy and MSN-based targeting strategies are discussed. We conclude with our personal perspectives on the directions in which future work in this field might be focused.

Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Biocompatibility and Drug Delivery

Although conventional chemotherapy has been successful to some extent, the main drawbacks of chemotherapy are its poor bioavailability, high-dose requirements, adverse side effects, low therapeutic indices, development of multiple drug resistance, and non-specific targeting. The main aim in the development of drug delivery vehicles is to successfully address these delivery-related problems and carry drugs to the desired sites of therapeutic action while reducing adverse side effects. In this review, we will discuss the different types of materials used as delivery vehicles for chemotherapeutic agents and their structural characteristics that improve the therapeutic efficacy of their drugs and will describe recent scientific advances in the area of chemotherapy, emphasizing challenges in cancer treatments.

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Controlled drug delivery vehicles for cancer treatment and their performance.

Nanosized mesoporous silica particles with high colloidal stability attract growing attention as drug delivery systems for targeted cancer treatment and as bioimaging devices. This Perspective describes recent breakthroughs in mesoporous silica nanoparticle design to demonstrate their high potential as multifunctional drug delivery nanocarriers. These types of nanoparticles can feature a well-defined and tunable porosity at the nanometer scale, high loading capacity, and multiple functionality for targeting and entering different types of cells. We focus on the requirements for an efficient stimuli-responsive and thus controllable release of cargo into cancer cells and discuss design principles for smart and autonomous nanocarrier systems. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles are viewed as a promising and flexible platform for numerous biomedical applications.

Multifunctional Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles as a Universal Platform for Drug Delivery

Sol-gel based materials for biomedical applications

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles in medicine--recent advances.

Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles as Drug Delivery Systems for Targeted Inhibition of Notch Signaling in Cancer

Simple-type epithelial keratins are intermediate filament proteins important for mechanical stability and stress protection. Keratin mutations predispose to human liver disorders, whereas their roles in intestinal diseases are unclear. Absence of keratin 8 (K8) in mice leads to colitis, decreased Na/Cl uptake, protein mistargeting, and longer crypts, suggesting that keratins contribute to intestinal homeostasis. We describe the rate-limiting enzyme of the ketogenic energy metabolism pathway, mitochondrial 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase 2 (HMGCS2), as a major down-regulated protein in the K8-knockout (K8(-/-)) colon. K8 absence leads to decreased quantity and activity of HMGCS2, and the down-regulation is not dependent on the inflammatory state, since HMGCS2 is not decreased in dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α, a transcriptional activator of HMGCS2, is similarly down-regulated. Ketogenic conditions-starvation or ketogenic diet-increase K8(+/+) HMGCS2, whereas this response is blunted in the K8(-/-) colon. Microbiota-produced short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), substrates in the colonic ketone body pathway, are increased in stool, which correlates with decreased levels of their main transporter, monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1). Microbial populations, including the main SCFA-butyrate producers in the colon, were not altered in the K8(-/-). In summary, the regulation of the SCFA-MCT1-HMGCS2 axis is disrupted in K8(-/-) colonocytes, suggesting a role for keratins in colonocyte energy metabolism and homeostasis.

Keratin 8 absence down-regulates colonocyte HMGCS2 and modulates colonic ketogenesis and energy metabolism

Keratins (K) are intermediate filament proteins important in stress protection and mechanical support of epithelial tissues. K8, K18 and K19 are the main colonic keratins, and K8-knockout (K8-/-) mice display a keratin dose-dependent hyperproliferation of colonic crypts and a colitis-phenotype. However, the impact of the loss of K8 on intestinal cell differentiation has so far been unknown. Here we show that K8 regulates Notch1 signalling activity and differentiation in the epithelium of the large intestine. Proximity ligation and immunoprecipitation assays demonstrate that K8 and Notch1 co-localize and interact in cell cultures, and in vivo in the colonic epithelial cells. K8 with its heteropolymeric partner K18 enhance Notch1 protein levels and activity in a dose dependent manner. The levels of the full-length Notch1 receptor (FLN), the Notch1 intracellular domain (NICD) and expression of Notch1 downstream target genes are reduced in the absence of K8, and the K8-dependent loss of Notch1 activity can be rescued with re-expression of K8/K18 in K8-knockout CRISPR/Cas9 Caco-2 cells protein levels. In vivo, K8 deletion with subsequent Notch1 downregulation leads to a shift in differentiation towards a goblet cell and enteroendocrine phenotype from an enterocyte cell fate. Furthermore, the K8-/- colonic hyperproliferation results from an increased number of transit amplifying progenitor cells in these mice. K8/K18 thus interact with Notch1 and regulate Notch1 signalling activity during differentiation of the colonic epithelium.

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Keratins regulate colonic epithelial cell differentiation through the Notch1 signalling pathway.

Keratins (K) are important for epithelial stress protection as evidenced by keratin mutations predisposing to human liver diseases and possibly inflammatory bowel diseases. A role for K8 in the colon is supported by the ulcerative colitis-phenotype with epithelial hyperproliferation and abnormal ion transport in K8-knockout (K8−/−) mice. The heterozygote knockout (K8+/−) colon appears normal but displays a partial ion transport-defect. Characterizing the colonic phenotype we show that K8+/− colon expresses ~50% less keratins compared to K8 wild type (K8+/+) but de novo K7 expression is observed in the top-most cells of the K8+/− and K8−/− crypts. The K8+/− colonic crypts are significantly longer due to increased epithelial hyperproliferation, but display no defects in apoptosis or inflammation in contrast to K8−/−. When exposed to colitis using the dextran sulphate sodium-model, K8+/− mice showed higher disease sensitivity and delayed recovery compared to K8+/+ littermates. Therefore, the K8+/− mild colonic phenotype correlates with decreased keratin levels and increased sensitivity to experimental colitis, suggesting that a sufficient amount of keratin is needed for efficient stress protection in the colonic epithelia.

Lina E. Fortelius

Papers

Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles as Drug Delivery Systems for Targeted Inhibition of Notch Signaling in Cancer

Keratin 8 absence down-regulates colonocyte HMGCS2 and modulates colonic ketogenesis and energy metabolism

Keratins regulate colonic epithelial cell differentiation through the Notch1 signalling pathway.

The Amount of Keratins Matters for Stress Protection of the Colonic Epithelium

Tu1747 The Amount of Intermediate Filament Keratins Matters in Stress Protection of Colonic Epithelial Cells