Silica particles : a novel drug-delivery system

Christophe Barbé, John R. Bartlett, Linggen Kong, Kim S. Finnie, Hui Qiang Lin, Michael Larkin, Sandrine Calleja, Alexandra Bush, Gerard Calleja

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

    802 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    In recent decades, significant advances in drug-delivery systems have enabled more effective drug administration. To deliver drugs to specific organs, a range of organic systems (e.g., micelles, liposomes, and polymeric nanoparticles) have been designed. They suffer from limitations, including poor thermal and chemical stability, and rapid elimination by the immune system. In contrast, silica particles offer a biocompatible, stable, and stealthy alternative. Bioactive molecules can be easily encapsulated within silica particles by combining sol-gel polymerization with either spray-drying or emulsion chemistry. Spray-drying faces challenges, including low yield, surface segregation, and size limitations. In contrast, sol-gel emulsions enable the production of nanoparticles with homogeneous drug distribution, and permit ambient temperature processing, necessary for handling biologicals. Independent control of the size and release rate can be readily achieved. Preliminary in-vivo experiments reveal enhanced blood stability of the nanoparticles, which, coupled with sustained release of anti-tumor agents, show good potential for cancer treatment.
    Original languageEnglish
    Number of pages7
    JournalAdvanced Materials
    Publication statusPublished - 2004

    Keywords

    • colloids
    • drug delivery devices
    • drug delivery systems
    • inorganic compounds
    • nanoparticles
    • silica

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Silica particles : a novel drug-delivery system'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this