Multifunctional mesoporous silica-based nanocomposites: Synthesis and biomedical applications

Abstract

Nanotechnology is an emerging area of research for the exploitation of various scientific advancements for controlling material configuration at a reduced dimensional scale. With the advent of nanotechnology, a new era for the development of biological products has opened. Multifunctional mesoporous silica-based particles fulfil critical requisites for the preparation and characterization of nanotechnology products. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) have distinctive structural features, such as large surface areas and tunable pore sizes, with particular suitability to deliver hydrophobic cargo intracellularly and tunable surface properties. Combinations of various nanostructured materials will enable the development of a multifunctional MSNP hybrid. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles have recently attracted much attention due to their significant potential for tumor treatment and imaging. Functionalized mesoporous silica materials have recently shown rapid growth in imagistic and curative applications. Multifunctional mesoporous silica nanocomposites have a higher capacity for drug loading and chemical release compared to amorphous colloidal silica. Therefore, MSNPS is an ideal platform for constructing multipurpose tools that incorporate various functional nanostructured materials. This review summarized the most recent advances in mesoporous materials research and discussed the use of various nanocarriers conjugated with MSNPs. High potential characteristics and exciting practical applications highlight different manufacturing strategies for these hybrids (noble metals, carbohydrates, up-conversion and magnetic nanoparticles (NPs), quantum dots (QDs), and photodynamic therapy (PDT)).