Drug molecules bridge with small gatekeeper to co-block mesoporous silica nanoparticles for drug delivery

In this study, a filter-like blocking system based on MSN with small gatekeeper 5-mercapto-2 nitrobenzoic acid (MNBA) has developed. The MNBA grafted nanoparticle MSN-SS-MNBA shows excellent blocking performance with negligible leakage when loaded with doxorubicin (DOX), and the release profiles illustrate stimuli-responsive property when triggered by GSH. Viability experiments indicate that MSN-SS-MNBA has obvious inhibition for both Hela cells and HCT116 cells, while showing good biocompatibility for L929 cells, which suggests that the modified MNBA has a synergistic effect on cancer cells-killing. Since the small grafted molecule MNBA cannot block the channels of MSN via self-assembly, a filter-like blocking model that the loaded drug bridged with modified MNBA to fulfill the blocking process is proposed. The novel blocking strategy provides a new possible way for pore blocking, and the small nanovalve can be used as synergistic molecule for cancer therapy.

Automated summary

In this study, a new drug delivery system based on a filter-like blocking system using MSN with small gatekeeper was developed. The system demonstrated controlled drug release with stimuli responsiveness, significant inhibition of cancer cells, and good biocompatibility with normal cells. This novel system provides a potential synergistic molecule for cancer therapy.