A Mesoporous Silica-Based Nano-Drug Co-Delivery System with Gemcitabine for Targeted Therapy of Pancreatic Cancer.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of the mesoporous silica-based nano-drug co-delivery system with gemcitabine (GEM) in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Study design: Experimental study. Place and Duration of the Study: Wenzhou Central Hospital, Zhejiang Province, China, between July 2022 and November 2023.

Methodology: Ce6@MSN-Fe3O4/GEM@DPM nanoparticles were prepared and structurally characterised, then their drug loading and entrapment efficiency were calculated, and in vitro drug release and cytotoxicity assays were performed. In addition to that, mesoporous silica nanorods were prepared and structurally characterised for cellular uptake, cytotoxicity, and reactive oxygen species detection.

Results: The mesoporous silica nanoparticles were spherical in shape and possessed a unique core-shell structure. The prepared nanoparticles had good entrapment efficiency and drug loading, and exibited pharmacotoxic and phototoxic effects on cells. The mesoporous silica nanorods were taken up by pancreatic cancer cells and exbitied cytotoxicity.

Conclusion: Mesoporous silica-based nano-drug co-delivery system, which carries GEM, is an effective targeted drug delivery system to provide new research ideas for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Key words: Pancreatic cancer, Gemcitabine, Magnetic nanocomposites, Photodynamic therapy, Targeted drug delivery.