Colloidal stability and degradability of silica nanoparticles in biological fluids: a review

Author(s)

da Cruz Schneid, Andressa ^[1] ; Albuquerque, Lindomar Jose Calumby ^[1] ; Mondo, Gabriela Borba ^{[1, 2]} ; Ceolin, Marcelo ^[3] ; Picco, Agustin Silvio ^[3] ; Cardoso, Mateus Borba ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Ctr Nacl Pesquisa Energia & Mat CNPEM, Lab Nacl Luz Sincrotron LNLS, BR-13083970 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Campinas UNICAMP, Inst Quim IQ, Caixa Postal 6154, BR-13083970 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[3] UNLP, CONICET, Inst Invest Fisicoquim Teor & Aplicadas INIFTA, RA-1900 La Plata - Argentina

• Document type: Review article
• Source: Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology; JAN 2022.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

This review shows the most common and promising strategies to generate colloidally stable silica nanoparticles (NPs) in simulated biological fluids and sheds light on the latest advances in producing degradable silica-based structures. Silica NPs can be synthesized in a wide variety of morphologies, porosity levels, and sizes. This versatility makes silica NPs one of the most promising nano-platforms for imaging and disease treatment. Nonetheless, biological barriers can decrease the success of translating them for therapeutic applications since the media composition can induce their colloidal stability loss. It can, consequently, lead to the NPs aggregation and affect their degradation profile. The interplay between NPs aggregation and degradation has been scarcely explored in the literature when biological fluids are seriously taken into account. Herein we discuss the theory behind the colloidal stability of silica NPs, the processes leading to their aggregation, and some strategies to overcome this issue (mainly focused on NPs surface functionalization). Furthermore, we addressed the main issues that affect the degradability of NPs in biological fluids, and explored some strategies, such as chemical surface modification, which are able to tune these degradation-driven profiles. Thus, the understanding of the silica NPs behavior in body fluids is essential for the approval of nanomedicines and, therefore, more investigations concerning the dynamics, thermodynamics, biological response, and structural parameters of silica-based NPs are of utmost importance. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/16905-0 - Colloidal stability and protein corona: fundamental aspects for maintaining silica nanoparticle properties in biologial media
• Grantee: Gabriela Borba Mondo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• FAPESP's process: 20/00767-3 - Developing nanoparticle formulations in powder form with excellent redispersibility: facing a major challenge in Nanomedicine
• Grantee: Mateus Borba Cardoso
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 15/25406-5 - Organizing matter: colloids formed by association of surfactants, polymers and nanoparticles
• Grantee: Watson Loh
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/00763-8 - Synthesis of a Biodegradable Periodic Mesoporous Organosílica: A H. pylori Specific Drug Carrier
• Grantee: Andressa da Cruz Schneid
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 19/24894-7 - Nano-biological consequences of multi-charged surface silica nanoparticles on the formation of the protein corona, colloidal stability, biocompatibility, and cellular uptake
• Grantee: Lindomar Jose Calumby Albuquerque
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral