Friday, March 24th: "Multifunctional Hybrid Silica-Based Nanoparticles for Cancer Treatment"

Abstract: Nanoparticles are an innovative platform for cancer treatment that reduces systemic toxicity and allows for active targeting of tumor sites to enhance the therapeutic efficacy. Hybrid silica-based nanoparticles (HSNs) have emerged as an attractive drug delivery system due to their vast functionalization potential, biocompatibility, and high surface area. The surface of HSNs can be modified with targeting agents that allow not only the specific interaction with cancer cells, but also targeting organelles inside the cells. In addition, active molecules such as photosensitizers and anticancer drugs can be chemically attached or physically loaded into the interior and/or exterior surface of HSNs. My group has focused its efforts in advance two HSN platforms, polysilsesquioxane (PSilQ) and mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs). In this seminar, I will present our research aimed to demonstrate the versatility of HSNs to develop target-specific multifunctional delivery systems for the treatment of cancer.