Reversible nanogate system for Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles based on Diels-Alder adducts.

Abstract

The implementation of nanoparticles as nanomedicines require from sophisticated surface modifications in order to reduce immune response and enhance recognition abilities. In addition to that, Mesoporous Silica nanoparticles present extraordinary host-guest abilities and facile surface functionalization. These two factors make them ideal candidates for the development of novel drug delivery systems, at the expense of increasing the structural complexity. With this idea in mind, a system of triggerable and tunable silica nanoparticles was developed for its application as drug delivery nanocarriers. For that purpose, Diels-Alder cycloaddition adducts were chosen as thermalresponsive units; that permitted to bind Au nanocaps able to block the pores and allow the incorporation of targeting fragments. The capping efficiency was tested under different thermal conditions, obtaining outstanding efficiencies within the physiological range and mild temperatures, as well as enhanced releases under pulsing heating cycles which showed the best release profiles.