In vivo tumor suppression efficacy of mesoporous silica nanoparticles-based drug-delivery system: enhanced efficacy by folate modification

Lu, Jie; Li, Zongxi; Zink, Jeffrey I.; Tamanoi, Fuyuhiko

doi:10.1016/j.nano.2011.06.002

« Previous Next »Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine
Volume 8, Issue 2 , Pages 212-220, February 2012

In vivo tumor suppression efficacy of mesoporous silica nanoparticles-based drug-delivery system: enhanced efficacy by folate modification

Jie Lu, MD, PhD
- California NanoSystems Institute, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
Zongxi Li, BS
- California NanoSystems Institute, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
Jeffrey I. Zink, PhD
- California NanoSystems Institute, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
Fuyuhiko Tamanoi, PhD
- California NanoSystems Institute, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
- Corresponding author: California NanoSystems Institute, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California Los Angeles, 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90095.

Received 14 April 2011; accepted 3 June 2011. published online 16 June 2011.

Abstract

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have proven to be promising vehicles for drug delivery. However, despite the potential, few studies have extended the success of in vitro studies to animal settings. In this article, we report the efficacy of MSNs using two different human pancreatic cancer xenografts on different mouse species. Significant tumor-suppression effects were achieved with camptothecin-loaded MSNs. Dramatic improvement of the potency of tumor suppression was obtained by surface modifying MSNs with folic acid. Dose-dependent tumor suppression was observed, establishing 0.5 mg of CPT-loaded MSNs per mouse as a minimum dose sufficient for achieving complete tumor growth inhibition. Renal excretion of MSNs was also confirmed with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging. These findings highlight attractive features (biocompatibility, renal clearance and high efficacy for delivering anticancer drugs) of MSNs as a drug-delivery system.

From the Clinical Editor

In this study, mesoporous silica nanoparticles are used as chemotherapy delivering agents in two different human pancreatic cancer xenografts and different mouse species. Significant tumor-suppression effects, biocompatibility and efficient renal clearance are demonstrated.

Graphical Abstract

Significant tumor-suppression effects were achieved with camptothecin-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs). Dramatic improvement of the potency of tumor suppression was obtained by surface modifying MSNs with folic acid. These findings highlight attractive features (biocompatibility, renal clearance and tumor-suppressing ability) of MSNs as a drug-delivery system.