Reactive oxygen species-mediated cancer therapy with silica-based nanoparticles

Abstract

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) is important for the well-being of cells since they served as messengers. However, too much ROS will kill them because of their high reactivity with DNA and surrounding organelles. Nanoparticles made from silica and ROS-producing agents have been successfully synthesized. They can manipulate the ROS within cancer cells by raising it to apoptotic or necrosis levels. The first project talks about the use of a nanoreactor that produces ·OH radicals independently. A photosensitizer was loaded into it as well to generate even more radicals for enhanced therapy. This was subsequently subjected to both in-vitro and in vivo testing. The second project explores the use of a new ligand to fabricate an organically modified silica nanocomposite capable of not only generating the ROS H2O2, but reducing the antioxidant capabilities of cancer cells to enhance the effectiveness of the produced ROS. The third project combined the use of the nanoreactor in the first project with a silane conjugated glucose oxidase for increased ·OH radicals production. In summary, this thesis showed that ROS can be effectively exploited to treat cancer.