Multifunctional Mesoporous Silica NanoParticles (MSNPs) have emerged as a robust platform for drug delivery with immense theranostic potential using MRI, PET and optical imaging. However, there have been limited reports on their use as core shell nanoparticles for contrast-assisted Computed Tomography (CT) and simultaneous drug delivery applications. In this work, we report a facile strategy for in-situ encapsulation of X-ray dense hydrophilic Tantalum Oxide NanoCrystals (TaOx NCs) and hydrophobic Bi NCs within MSNPs for potential use as novel agents for dual CT imaging and drug delivery. The resulting MSNPs displayed a typical type IV BET adsorption isotherm curve characteristic of a mesoporous structure with a large surface area. These NPs were extensively characterized for size, structure and composition using DLS, TEM, SEM, TGA and ICP-MS. The overall Ta and Bi concentration for the MSNPs was 39% and 20% respectively. As compared to the Bi-MSNPs, the TaOx-MSNPs evolved as a more promising candidate owing to their smaller size, greater homogeneity in NC distribution within the MSNPs and the ability to form more stable aqueous dispersions. To evaluate the extent of drug loading, various MSNP formulations were incubated with the anticancer drug Doxorubicin for a period of 72 hours. The presence of various end groups such as amines and phosphates within the outer shell of MSNPs was found to influence the extent of drug loading and TaOx-MSNPs with phosphate end groups showed excellent loading for the hydrophilic Doxorubicin hydrochloride. Finally, the TaOx-MSNPs were shown to have effective CT contrast.

Core-shell mesoporous silica nanoparticles embedded with X-ray dense nanocrystals for CT imaging and drug delivery

254th National Meeting (2017)

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