Silica nanoparticles for brain cancer

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Brain cancer is a debilitating disease with a poor survival rate. There are significant challenges for effective treatment due to the presence of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and blood–tumor barrier (BTB) which impedes drug delivery to tumor sites. Many nanomedicines have been tested in improving both the survival and quality of life of patients with brain cancer with the recent focus on inorganic nanoparticles such as silica nanoparticles (SNPs). This review examines the use of SNPs as a novel approach for diagnosing, treating, and theranostics of brain cancer.

Areas covered

The review provides an overview of different brain cancers and current therapies available. A special focus on the key functional properties of SNPs is discussed which makes them an attractive material in the field of onco-nanomedicine. Strategies to overcome the BBB using SNPs are analyzed. Furthermore, recent advancements in active targeting, combination therapies, and innovative nanotherapeutics utilizing SNPs are discussed. Safety considerations, toxicity profiles, and regulatory aspects are addressed to provide an understanding of SNPs’ translational potential.

Expert opinion

SNPs have tremendous prospects in brain cancer research. The multifunctionality of SNPs has the potential to overcome both the BBB and BTB limitations and can be used for brain cancer imaging, drug delivery, and theranostics. The insights provided will facilitate the development of next-generation, innovative strategies, guiding future research toward improved diagnosis, targeted therapy, and better outcomes in brain cancer patients.

KEYWORDS:

• Brain cancer
• silica nanoparticles
• blood–brain barrier
• brain drug delivery
• targeting ligands
• cancer therapy

Article highlights

• Small-sized silica nanoparticles can efficiently transport therapeutic agents directly to brain tumor sites or act as permeation-enhancing agents to transiently improve permeation crossing the blood–brain barrier.

• By acting as biocompatible and biodegradable contrast agents, silica nanoparticles can be used for brain cancer imaging aiding in accurate diagnosis and treatment monitoring.

• Silica nanoparticles can be combined with multiple drugs or other treatment modalities for synergistic and personalized brain cancer treatments.

Declaration of interests

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants, or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

The authors express their gratitude to the School of Pharmacy at the University of Queensland for providing the necessary research facilities and financial support. Appreciation is also extended to the Australian Microscopy & Microanalysis Research Facility at the Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Queensland, for their valuable scientific and technical assistance. The authors acknowledge the Translation Research Institute microscopy and flow cytometry facility, which enabled the successful completion of this study. Y.C. would like to thank the University of Queensland Graduate School for the support received through the UQ Graduate School Scholarship (UQGSS). Y Feng would like to appreciate the Student Enrichment and Employability Development (SEED) of UQ for the summer research scholarship. A Popat thanks the Tour de Cure foundation grant (RSP-263-FY2023) and support from Brain Foundation.