Abstract

In this presentation, I will discuss our development in establishing mesoporous silica nanoparticle(MSN) as a viable nanocarrier platform for cancer therapy. The internal nanopores of MSN offers unique advantages in drug loading. Looking into the current pharmaceutical market, more than 50% of approved drugs contain poorly water soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), generally leading to poor bioavailability, suboptimal drug delivery, ineffective drug efficacy, and multiple side effects. Encapsulating the drugs in the confined space of nanopores makes them in amorphous form leading to higher solubility and bioavalability.

We have found poorly water-soluble drugs can be loaded with MSN formulation to create good dispersity and higher solubility in aqueous solution, for example doxorubicin, irinotecan, paclitaxel, ixabepilone and other proprietary compounds. Moreover, MSN particles, by themselves, exert good anti-metastasis effects. This is due to the fact that MSN particles might affect the focal adhesion of cancer cells to inhibit its migration. Also, with the proper surface and size customization, MSN particles shows excellent passive cancer targeting(EPR effect) and capable of crossing the blood brain barrier (BBB). I will give two examples. (1) Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Enhance Delivery of Docetaxel for Malignant Glioma Therapy. (2) Effective delivering Irinotecan by mesoporous silica nanoparticle to metastatic colorectal tumor.  The corresponding MSN materials are under CMC production process for clinical investigation.

In another development, a special form of MSN, hollow silica nanosphere(HSN), was found to be an excellent adjuvant for vaccine. By encapsulating neoantigens within the HSN, vaccines for anti-cancer could be made. They show excellent induction of anti-tumor immune response in mouse tumor model, including both antibody and cytotoxic T cells.