Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles in Drug Delivery Systems

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) represent a versatile class of nanocarriers characterised by ordered pore structures typically ranging from 2 to 10 nanometres in diameter. Their high surface area, tunable pore volume and facile surface chemistry allow for efficient loading of therapeutic agents and precise control over release kinetics. Surface functionalisation strategies—such as grafting of targeting ligands, stealth polymers or stimulus-responsive moieties—further enhance site-specific accumulation and minimise off-target effects. The inherent biocompatibility and stability of silica frameworks underpin a growing interest in translating MSNs from bench to bedside. Key challenges include understanding in vivo fate, ensuring reproducible large-scale synthesis and achieving regulatory compliance. Nevertheless, MSNs have shown promise in a range of applications from chemotherapy and gene delivery to immunomodulation, offering potential improvements in therapeutic index, reduced systemic toxicity and multimodal imaging capabilities.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent work has elucidated the relationships between MSN physicochemical properties and their pharmacokinetics in vivo. Seminal studies using radiolabelling coupled with tomographic imaging have demonstrated how particle size, surface charge and route of administration dictate biodistribution, clearance and organ accumulation. Larger particles exhibit reduced systemic bioavailability and preferential uptake by the mononuclear phagocyte system, whereas neutral or shielded surface chemistries promote enhanced circulation and excretion profiles. Complementary investigations into hollow mesoporous designs have shown that engineering of interior cavity volume and external surface ligation can significantly improve active targeting to tumour neovasculature, achieving up to threefold increases in local uptake when compared with non-functionalised counterparts. These insights provide a predictive framework for rational design of next-generation silica-based nanotherapeutics.

Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles in Drug Delivery Systems publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in mesoporous silica nanoparticles in drug delivery systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs): Nanoparticles composed of silica with ordered pore networks (2–10 nm) used for loading and controlled release of drugs.

Gatekeeper system: Surface-anchored moieties that block or expose pore openings in response to specific stimuli, regulating cargo release.

Enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect: Passive accumulation of nanoparticles in tumours or inflamed tissues due to leaky vasculature and poor lymphatic drainage.

Surface functionalisation: Chemical modification of nanoparticle surfaces to introduce targeting ligands, polymers or responsive groups that influence biodistribution and cellular uptake.

References

1. Multifunctional mesoporous silica nanoparticles for biomedical applications. Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy (2023).
2. Mesoporous silica/organosilica nanoparticles for cancer immunotherapy. Exploration (2023).
3. Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles: A Comprehensive Review on Synthesis and Recent Advances. Pharmaceutics (2018).
4. Engineering of Hollow Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Remarkably Enhanced Tumor Active Targeting Efficacy. Scientific Reports (2014).
5. Establishing the effects of mesoporous silica nanoparticle properties on in vivo disposition using imaging-based pharmacokinetics. Nature Communications (2018).