This review discusses the relationship between inflammation and cancer initiation and progression, which has prompted research into anti-inflammatory approaches for cancer prevention and treatment. Specifically, it focuses on the use of inflammation-reducing agents to enhance the effectiveness of tumor treatment methods. These agents are combined with platinum(II)-based antitumor drugs to create multifunctional platinum(IV) prodrugs, allowing for simultaneous delivery to tumor cells in a specific ratio. Once inside the cells and subjected to intracellular reduction, both components can act in parallel through distinct pathways. Motivated by the objective of reducing the systemic toxicity associated with contemporary chemotherapy, and with the aim of leveraging the passive enhanced permeability and retention effect exhibited by nanostructured materials to improve their accumulation within tumor tissues, the platinum(IV) complexes have been efficiently loaded into mesoporous silica SBA-15 material. The resulting nanostructured materials are capable of providing controlled release of the conjugates when subjected to simulated plasma conditions. This feature suggests the potential for extended circulation within the body in vivo, with minimal premature release of the drug before reaching the intended target site. The primary emphasis of this review is on research that integrates these two approaches to develop chemotherapeutic treatments that are both more efficient and less harmful.

This study describes the synthesis and characterization of chlorambucil (CLB)-functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) for potential application in cancer therapy. The nanoparticles were designed with a diameter between 20 and 50 nm to optimize cellular uptake and avoid rapid clearance from the bloodstream. The synthesis method involved modifying a previously reported technique to reduce particle size. Successful functionalization with CLB was confirmed through various techniques, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and elemental analysis. The cytotoxicity of the CLB-functionalized nanoparticles (MSN@NH2-CLB) was evaluated against human lung adenocarcinoma cells (A549) and colon carcinoma cells (CT26WT). The results suggest significantly higher cytotoxicity of MSN@NH2-CLB compared to unbound CLB, with improved selectivity towards cancer cells over normal cells. This suggests that MSN@NH2-CLB holds promise as a drug delivery system for targeted cancer therapy.

One of the current challenges is the reduction of sulfur emitted into the atmosphere, usually in the form of sulfur oxides generated by fossil fuel combustion. To achieve this goal, the sulfur content should be reduced in fuel. In this context, vanadium-containing materials based on SBA-15 mesoporous silica supports and two different sources of vanadium were prepared, characterized, and applied as catalysts for oxidative desulfurization (CODS) and extractive oxidative desulfurization processes (ECODSs). The novelty of this work was the comparative study of vanadium-containing materials in two desulfurization systems. The properties of the catalysts, the concentration and state of vanadium species, and their role in the catalytic process were examined by low-temperature nitrogen physisorption, XRD, UV-Vis, XPS, and chemisorption of pyridine combined with FTIR spectroscopy. The catalytic performance of the material prepared using ammonium metavanadate was superior to that of the catalyst obtained using vanadium(IV) oxide sulfate, which was explained by a higher concentration of vanadium species on the surface of the support and their lower oxidation state in the former. Both types of catalysts showed high activity and stability in the ECODS process.

Since conventional antibiotics are almost ineffective on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains, designing their antibacterial alternatives is necessary. Besides, the use of vancomycin is applied for specific detection of the bacteria. Silver-incorporated vancomycin-modified mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs@Van@Ag NPs) were designed for detection and treatment of MRSA bacteria. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) were synthesized through the template method, modified with vancomycin, and finally incorporated with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). The MSNs@Van@Ag NPs with a homogenously spherical shape, average size of 50-100 nm, surface area of 955.8 m2/g, and thermal stability up to 200°C were successfully characterized. The amount of Ag incorporated into the MSNs@Van@Ag was calculated at 3.9 ppm and the release amount of Ag was received at 2.92 ppm (75%) after 100 h. The in vitro antibacterial susceptibility test showed the MIC of 100 μg mL-1 for MSNs@Van and 50 μg mL-1 for MSNs@Van@Ag, showing in vitro enhanced effect of Ag and vancomycin in the bactericidal process. An in vivo acute pneumonia model was performed and biochemical assays and pathological studies confirmed the nanomedicine\'s short-term safety for in vivo application. Cytokine assay using ELISA showed that MSN@Van@Ag causes a reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and bacterial proliferation leading to alleviation of inflammatory response.

In a healthcare setting, biofilms are a major source of infection and difficult to eradicate once formed. Nanoparticles (NPs) can be designed to effectively penetrate biofilms to more efficiently either deliver antibiotic drugs throughout the biofilm matrix or elicit inherent antibiofilm activity. Antibacterial cerium oxide (CeO2) NPs were employed as core material and coated with a mesoporous silica shell (MSN) to generate cerium oxide coated mesoporous silica NPs (CeO2@MSN). Detailed studies of NP-biofilm interactions are required to rationally develop NP platforms to prevent biofilm-related infections. This work developed and implemented a unique label-free analysis platform for the real-time monitoring of bacterial biofilm formation and then assessed the interactions of antibacterial NPs. An analysis platform which allows bacterial biofilms to grow and develop in situ in flow within the multi-parametric surface plasmon resonance (MP-SPR) instrument was established. This enabled simultaneous monitoring and detection of biofilm growth phases, structure, and interactions between differentially charged CeO2@MSNs and bacterial biofilms. Positively charged antibacterial NPs (polyethyleneimine functionalized CeO2@MSNs) were found to be the most efficient to penetrate the biofilm. The MP-SPR analysis platform was shown to be a powerful tool for monitoring biofilm development in real-time and to analyze biofilm properties and NP-biofilm interactions.

Recent advancements in cancer treatment have underscored the inadequacy of conventional monotherapies in addressing complex malignant tumors. Consequently, there is a growing interest in synergistic therapies capable of overcoming the limitations of monotherapies, leading to more personalized and effective approaches. Among these, the combination of photothermal therapy (PTT) and chemotherapy has emerged as a promising avenue for tumor management. In this study, we present a novel approach utilizing thermoresponsive mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) as a delivery system for the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin. By incorporating photothermal agent copper sulfide (CuS) nanoparticles into the MSN, the resulting composite material exhibits potent photothermal properties. Furthermore, the integration of an upper critical solution temperature (UCST) polymer within the silica outer layer serves as a \"gatekeeper\", enabling precise control over drug release kinetics. This innovative nanomaterial effectively merges thermoresponsive behavior with PTT, thereby minimizing the collateral damage associated with traditional chemotherapy on healthy tissues. Moreover, in both in vitro studies using mouse breast carcinoma cells (4 T1) and in vivo experiments utilizing a 4 T1 tumor-bearing mouse model, our nanomaterials demonstrated synergistic effects, enhancing the anti-tumor efficacy of combined PTT and chemotherapy. With its remarkable photothermal conversion efficiency, robust stability, and biocompatibility, the UCST-responsive nanoplatform holds immense potential for clinical applications.

Mesoporous silica SBA-15 has emerged as a promising adsorbent and separation material due to its unique structural and physicochemical properties. To further enhance its performance, various surface modification strategies, including metal oxide and noble metal incorporation for improved catalytic activity and stability, organic functionalization with amino and thiol groups for enhanced adsorption capacity and selectivity, and inorganic-organic composite modification for synergistic effects, have been extensively explored. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent advances in the surface modification of SBA-15 for adsorption and separation applications. The synthesis methods, structural properties, and advantages of SBA-15 are discussed, followed by a detailed analysis of the different modification strategies and their structure-performance relationships. The adsorption and separation performance of functionalized SBA-15 materials in the removal of organic pollutants, heavy metal ions, gases, and biomolecules, as well as in chromatographic and solid-liquid separation, is critically evaluated. Despite the significant progress, challenges and opportunities for future research are identified, including the development of low-cost and sustainable synthesis routes, rational design of SBA-15-based materials with tailored properties, and integration into practical applications. This review aims to guide future research efforts in developing advanced SBA-15-based materials for sustainable environmental and industrial applications, with an emphasis on green and scalable modification strategies.

The high silicon content in rice plant waste, specifically rice husks, makes this waste by-product attractive for the extraction and valorization of silicon oxide, which is widely used as an inert support in catalysis, drug delivery and molecular sieving. The procedures currently used for the treatment of plant biomass make extensive use of mineral acids (HCl, H2SO4, HNO3), which, besides them being potential environmental pollutants, reduce the yield and worsen the chemical-physical properties of the product. In this study, an evaluation of the easy treatment of rice husks by benchmarking different, more eco-friendly carboxylic acids in order to obtain a mesoporous SiO2 with an alveolar structure and a relatively high surface area and pore volume (300-420 m2/g, 0.37-0.46 cm3/g) is presented. The obtained mesoporous silicas are characterized by worm-like pores with a narrow size distribution and a maximum in the range of 3.4-3.5 nm. The mesoporous structure of the obtained materials was also confirmed by TEM. The complete removal of the organic part of the rice husks in the final materials was evidenced by thermogravimetric analysis. The high purity of the obtained mesoporous silica was detected using ICP analysis (98.8 wt. %). The structure peculiarities of the obtained mesoporous silicas were also characterized by solid-state NMR and ATR-FTIR spectroscopies. The morphology of the mesoporous silica was investigated by SEM.

BACKGROUND: Poplar in China has long been plagued by the fall webworm Hyphantria cunea. Enhancing plant immunity using chemical elicitors is an environmentally friendly approach to pest control. The phytohormone methyl jasmonate (MeJA) can stimulate the chemical defenses of poplars against herbivores but has been shown to have limited efficacy in practice. Here, we studied the effects of a MeJA and mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN) complex (MeJA@MSN) regarding the induction of poplar resistance to H. cunea, which may provide strategies for the effective use of MeJA.
RESULTS: The silicon-based phytohormone complex (MeJA@MSNs) exhibited excellent biological and physiochemical properties, such as excellent biocompatibility and plant tissue transportability. The changes in metabolites in poplar leaves induced by MeJA, MSNs, and MeJA@MSNs were investigated by metabolic analysis. MeJA@MSNs led to highly potent induced resistance along with elevated salicylaldehyde content, which increased with the dose administered. The salicylaldehyde metabolite showed a strong antifeedant effect on H. cunea larvae at a dosage of 1 μg, with the 50% lethal dose being 20.4 μg/mg. Furthermore, transcriptional analysis showed that MeJA@MSNs upregulated key genes in biosynthetic pathways more than MeJA and MSNs.
CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that MeJA and MSNs interact positively in poplar, leading to salicylaldehyde accumulation and increased induced resistance to H. cunea, providing new insights into the underlying resistance mechanisms induced by MeJA@MSNs. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

This study aimed to investigate the amorphous stabilization of BCS Class II drugs using mesoporous silica as a carrier to produce amorphous solid dispersions. Ibuprofen, fenofibrate, and budesonide were selected as model drugs to evaluate the impact of molecular weight and partition coefficient on the solid state of drug-loaded mesoporous silica (MS) particles. The model drugs were loaded into three grades of MS, SYLYSIA SY730, SYLYSIA SY430, and SYLYSIA SY350, with pore diameters of 2.5 nm, 17 nm, and 21 nm, respectively, at 1:1, 2:1, and 3:1, carrier to drug ratios, and three different loading concentrations using solvent immersion and spray drying techniques. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermograms of SY430 and SY350 samples exhibited melting point depressions indicating constricted crystallization inside the pores, whereas SY730 samples with melting points matching the pure API may be a result of surface crystallization. Powder x-ray diffraction (PXRD) diffractograms showed all crystalline samples matched the diffraction patterns of the pure API indicating no polymorphic transitions and all 3:1 ratio samples exhibited amorphous halo profiles. Response surface regression analysis and Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis suggest carrier to drug ratios, followed by molecular weight, have the most significant impact on the crystallinity of a drug loaded into MS particles.