FUNCTIONALISATION OF MESOPOROUS SILICA NANOPARTICLES FOR BREAST CANCER TREATMENT

Abstract

Since the advent of nanotechnology in cancer therapeutics, silica nanoparticles have been worked on for years to improve features such as loading capacity and targetedness, and to expand the range of payload that the particles can deliver to target cells. In this project, we synthesized pristine mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) and functionalised these with phosphonate groups (MSN-Phos) towards building a system suited for loading and delivery of the hydrophilic anti-cancer drug Doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX). Negatively charged phosphonate groups were selected to modify the MSN surface for improved association with positively charged DOX molecules. Nanoparticles synthesized within a size range of 50-350nm had appreciable surface area and pore volume to accommodate high loading efficiency per unit surface area. The particles synthesized exhibited almost a 50% increase in drug loading capacity post surface-functionalisation. Normal human foreskin fibroblast cells (BJ cells) were treated with unloaded MSN and unloaded MSN-Phos, and were found to illicit few deleterious effects. This is however contrasted with significant cell death when these same nanoparticles were used to treat MCF-7 cells (human breast adenocarcinoma cell line). The project explores the scope of these nanoparticle systems in the role of an effective anti-breast cancer drug delivery system, and itself as anti-cancer drugs.