20. April 2018

Silica-based nanoparticles are used as excipients in pharmaceutical technology. Recently, mesoporous silica nanoparticles have emerged as drug delivery systems. Their porous structure enables the high drug-loading of drugs with poor water solubility. The silica matrix protects entrapped drugs against enzymatic degradation. Furthermore, the premature release of drugs is hindered by pore-gating strategies. Adding a targeting ligand to the silica-based nanoparticles directs them to diseased cells...