HO-Responsive Boronic Ester-Modified Mesoporous Silica Nanocarrier for TfR Mediated Tumor-Specific Drug Delivery Applications.

This study introduces a drug delivery system utilizing boronic ester-functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles () for targeted cancer therapy. By conjugating transferrin (Tf) to the MSNP surface, the system actively targets cancer cells via transferrin receptor (TfR)-mediated endocytosis. The incorporation of boronic ester linkages enables hydrogen peroxide (HO)-responsive drug release, enhancing therapeutic efficacy. In vitro experiments demonstrated that effectively delivered doxorubicin (DOX) to cancer cells while sparing normal cells, as confirmed by fluorescence imaging and cytotoxicity assays. In vivo studies using a colon cancer xenograft model showed that inhibited tumor growth more effectively than free DOX. These findings highlight as a promising nanocarrier for cancer therapy, offering targeted and controlled drug delivery through active targeting and HO responsiveness.