Abstract
Unicellular diatom microalgae are a promising natural resource of porous biosilica. These microorganisms produce around their membrane a highly porous and extremely structured silica shell called frustule. Once harvested from living algae or from fossil sediments of diatomaceous earth, this biocompatible and non-toxic material offers an exceptional potential in the field of micro/nano-devices, drug delivery, theranostics, and other medical applications. The present review focused on the use of diatoms in the field of drug delivery systems, with the aim of presenting the different strategies implemented to improve the biophysical properties of this biosilica in terms of drug loading and release efficiency, targeted delivery, or site-specific binding capacity by surface functionalization. The development of composite materials involving diatoms for drug delivery applications is also described.
Highlights
Starting in 1950, the use of drug carriers to vehicle pharmaceutical active ingredients (API) in the body gained a rapid interest in the field of therapeutics [1]
The present review focused on the use of diatoms in the field of drug delivery systems, with the aim of presenting the different strategies implemented to improve the biophysical properties of this biosilica in terms of drug loading and release efficiency, targeted delivery, or site-specific binding capacity by surface functionalization
As well as the ones we describe in the following pages, this natural biomaterial can be recovered in two ways: through cultivation, harvest, and isolation of frustules from living diatoms, or through mining diatomaceous earth, a fossil sediment enriched in silicon diatom frustules [33]
Summary
Starting in 1950, the use of drug carriers to vehicle pharmaceutical active ingredients (API) in the body gained a rapid interest in the field of therapeutics [1]. The fabrication of synthetic mesoporous silica requires advanced skills, often involves the use of toxic chemicals, and results in the formation of non-reusable polluting byproducts, leading to a poor cost-effective process. The particular morphologies of diatoms and properties such as large surface area, wide porosity, and highly organized hierarchical structure present valuable features in the field of drug delivery Their biomineralization process has been taken as an inspirational model for the elaboration of synthetic materials and efficient drug carriers [25]. Their study demonstrated the enhanced properties of a new structure exhibiting broad band high-absorption properties [32] For all these applications, as well as the ones we describe in the following pages, this natural biomaterial can be recovered in two ways: through cultivation, harvest, and isolation of frustules from living diatoms, or through mining diatomaceous earth, a fossil sediment enriched in silicon diatom frustules [33]. Diatomite was recognized as safe by the FDA for human consumption when used as adjuvant or carrier in different forms of preparation (Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 21, Sections 177.2410, 178.3297, 182.90, or 184.1420), but it still requires approval for use in the pharmaceutical industry and in medicine
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