Surface Decorated Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles: A Promising and Emerging Tool for Cancer Targeting

Background: In nanotechnology, the most promising inorganic materials for cancer targeting are Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs). This review gives a state of the art description of current status and applications of surface functionalized MSNs in the field of cancer theranostics. It also gives a detailed description of surface decorated MSNs researched upon so far in various types of cancer and the benefits associated with these. Applications: Ease of surface functionalization also offers additional functionalities like cell recognition, absorption of specific biomolecules, improving cell interaction and cellular uptake that significantly modifies the in vitro and in vivo behavior of the drug. Therefore, they have proved to be effective in gene delivery and multi drug resistance cancer treatment. Though, their biocompatibility still remains debatable. Biodegradation of MSNs is quite simple and it is safely excreted through kidneys via silanoic acid formation. Moreover, the USFDA has already approved the silica under the ‘GRAS’ category which has further made MSNs a thrust area for research in cancer theranostics. Summary: This review summarizes the journey of multifunctional MSNs beginning with its origin, mechanism of formation of mesoporous structure with surface functionalization to till date and recent advances in the arena of cancer targeting.