A hybrid formulation of porous silicon nanoparticle with carboxymethyl cellulose for enhanced drug loading

Abstract

Porous silicon nanoparticles (pSiNPs) have received considerable spotlight in drug delivery systems due to their biocompatibility, drug loading capacity, and easy surface modification. Despite these merits, the degradation rate control of pSiNPs in biological environments remains a challenge for sustained-release applications. In this study, we introduce a novel formulation of pSiNPs-based coated with carboxymethyl cellulose (pSiNPs-CMC) for the first time. The drug loading and release behavior of pSiNPs-CMC, featuring representative anticancer drugs such as doxorubicin, gemcitabine, paclitaxel, and SN-38, were extensively characterized. Notably, the CMC coating on pSiNPs resulted in an increase in loading efficiency of over 60% both for hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs, while ensuring a controlled and tailored drug release profile. Our findings present the potential of the pSiNPs-CMC composite as a robust and versatile platform, overcoming conventional limitations in drug specificity and representing a significant advancement in sustained and personalized drug delivery systems.