Aptamer-conjugated mesoporous silica nanoparticles for simultaneous imaging and therapy of cancer

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) possess wide requirements for successful drug delivery, due to their superior physicochemical properties such as the well-organized porous structure, the higher volume of pore and surface area, and low in vivo toxicity. Once armed with homing devices such as aptamers (Aps), MSNs can actively be delivered to target sites with minimized off-target effects and maximized therapeutic effects with a lower dose of drug. Unique features of Aps (e.g., small size, high stability, structure flexibility, and low or no immunogenicity) make them robust targeting ligands for the development of various DDSs. Considerable researches have been performed on the advancement of different Aps-decorated MSNs for enhanced cancer therapy/imaging with substantial successes even though several crucial issues still remain to be addressed. This review focuses on the development and applications of Aps-armed MSNs as robust targeted DDSs for simultaneous cancer diagnosis and therapy.