PEGylation of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery Applications

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) and PEGylated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (PEG-MSNs) were synthesized and characterized for potential targeted drug delivery applications. In this study, MSNs were synthesized via a sol-gel process to investigate in vitro drug release efficacy and subsequently PEGylated to impart colloidal stability and biocompatibility for future mouse model experiment. Comprehensive characterization techniques, including Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, and zeta potential measurements were employed. SEM analysis revealed uniformly distributed spherical nanoparticles with smooth surfaces, while FTIR confirmed the successful PEGylation in the surface of MSNs. BET analysis also indicated a reduction in surface area, pore volume, and pore size upon PEGylation, suggesting that PEG chains influence the nanoparticle structure. Zeta potential measurements showed a shift from negative to positive surface charge post-PEGylation, indicating improved colloidal stability. Drug loading and release studies utilizing doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) demonstrated a controlled release profile, with MSNs exhibiting a higher cumulative release compared to PEG-MSNs over 24 h. These findings underscore the potential of PEG-MSNs for controlled drug delivery, offering advantages such as reduced systemic toxicity and enhanced therapeutic efficacy for PEG-MSNs nanocarrier in the animal studies due to their increased colloidal stability.