Novel Drug and Gene Delivery System and Imaging Agent Based on Marine Diatom Biosilica Nanoparticles

• Published in: Marine drugs 2022-07, Vol.20 (8), p.480
• Main Authors: Hussein, Hanaa Ali, Nazir, Muhammad Shahid, Azra, Nizakat, Qamar, Zeenat, Seeni, Azman, Tengku Din, Tengku Ahmad Damitri Al-Astani, Abdullah, Mohd Azmuddin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bioavailability; Biocompatibility; Biodegradability; Biodegradation; Biosensors; biosilica nanoparticle; Cancer; Cancer therapies; Chemical compounds; Chemical properties; Chemical synthesis; Chemicophysical properties; Chemotherapy; Diatoms; Diatoms - metabolism; Disadvantages; Disease management; Drug Carriers - chemistry; Drug delivery; drug delivery system; Drug delivery systems; Drug Delivery Systems - methods; Drugs; gene therapy; Gene transfer; Gene Transfer Techniques; imaging agent; Imaging techniques; Marine microorganisms; Marine resources; Medical imaging; Medical prognosis; Morphology; Nanoparticles; Nanoparticles - chemistry; Optical measuring instruments; Pharmaceutical Preparations - metabolism; Pharmacology; Physicochemical processes; Physicochemical properties; Polyethylene glycol; Pore size; Porosity; Quantum dots; Regenerative medicine; Review; Silica; Silicon Dioxide - chemistry; siRNA; Skin; Tomography; Toxicity
• ISSN: 1660-3397; 1660-3397
• DOI: 10.3390/md20080480

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have great potential for applications as a drug delivery system (DDS) due to their unique properties such as large pore size, high surface area, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and stable aqueous dispersion. The MSN-mediated DDS can carry chemotherapeutic agents, optical sensors, photothermal agents, short interfering RNA (siRNA), and gene therapeutic agents. The MSN-assisted imaging techniques are applicable in cancer diagnosis. However, their synthesis via a chemical route requires toxic chemicals and is challenging, time-consuming, and energy-intensive, making the process expensive and non-viable. Fortunately, nature has provided a viable alternative material in the form of biosilica from marine resources. In this review, the applications of biosilica nanoparticles synthesized from marine diatoms in the field of drug delivery, biosensing, imaging agents, and regenerative medicine, are highlighted. Insights into the use of biosilica in the field of DDSs are elaborated, with a focus on different strategies to improve the physico-chemical properties with regards to drug loading and release efficiency, targeted delivery, and site-specific binding capacity by surface functionalization. The limitations, as well as the future scope to develop them as potential drug delivery vehicles and imaging agents, in the overall therapeutic management, are discussed.