Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNP) have proven to be an extremely effective solid support for controlled drug delivery, as the surface can be easily functionalized to control the pore opening. We have recently described a series of mechanized silica nanoparticles that under abiotic conditions are capable of delivering cargo molecules through a series of nano-valves. The key question for these systems now has become whether they can be adopted for biological use through controlled valve opening in the cells of interest. Herein, we report a MSNP delivery system that is capable of drug delivery based on the function of a nano-valve that is responsive to the endosomal acidification conditions in human differentiated myeloid (THP-1) and squamous carcinoma (KB-31) cell lines. We further demonstrate how to optimize the surface functionalization of the MSNP to optimize the platform for effective and rapid Hoechst dye and doxorubicin release to the nuclei of THP-1 and KB-31 cells, respectively. 

Design of intracellular pH sensitive nanovalve on mesoporous silica nanoparticle

240th National Meeting (2010)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.