Mesoporous silica nanoparticles for drug combination delivery in cancer therapy

Abstract Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, with approximately one in six deaths attributed to this disease. Due to its complex requirements in treatment and management, cancer remains a global social challenge, driving extensive scientific efforts into the development of new technological advances and materials, to provide novel cancer therapies with enhanced efficacy and safety. Monotherapy or the administration of a sole anticancer drug is still a clinical standard in cancer therapy; however, these treatment options are often deemed less effective than combinational therapy. Over the past few years, research efforts into the use of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) as delivery vehicles for drug combinations have increased significantly. Owing to their distinctly ordered porous structures, MSNs provide high loading capacities for various types of guest materials. In this chapter, we will touch upon the origin and synthesis of these versatile nanoparticles, as well as the many parameters by which MSNs can be tuned to effectively deliver drug combinations to tumors. We will also review various studies in which MSNs have been employed as nanocarriers for combinational therapies in cancer treatment. Finally, the obstacles associated with the use of MSNs and the future outlook of these multifaceted nanovehicles will be discussed.