Drug Delivery and Biomedical Applications of Porous Silicon-Based Nanocarriers

Drug Delivery and Biomedical Applications of Porous Silicon-Based Nanocarriers

See the new book, edited by Rajendra Awasthi, Santosh Kumar Singh, Anurag Kumar Singh. This book introduces the fundamentals and beneficial properties of porous silicon, including thermal properties and stabilization, photochemical and nonthermal chemical modification, protein modification, and biocompatibility.

Description: Drug Delivery and Biomedical Applications of Porous Silicon-Based Nanocarriers delivers an up-to-date and complete overview of the range of biomedical applications for porous silicon nanomaterials, with a special emphasis on drug delivery. This book introduces the fundamentals and beneficial properties of porous silicon, including thermal properties and stabilization, photochemical and nonthermal chemical modification, protein modification, and biocompatibility. The book then builds on the systematic detailing of each biomedical application using porous silicon, such as vaccine development, drug delivery, and tissue engineering. It also contains new insights on in-vivo assessment of porous silicon, photodynamic and photothermal therapy, micro- and nanoneedles, cancer immunotherapy, and more. Drug Delivery and Biomedical Applications of Porous Silicon-Based Nanocarriers is of interest to researchers in the fields of materials science, nanotechnology, pharmaceutical science, biomedical engineering, and cancer research.

Chapter 6

Porous silica and related composites for topical drug delivery

Topical drug delivery (TDD) methods of silica nanocomposites (SCPs) and their composites have been extensively studied because of their appealing characteristics. These include high surface area, biocompatibility, thermal stability, tunable pore volume, and surface-active groups. The exclusive mesoporous arrangement of silica and the simplicity with which its surface may be modified render it possible to achieve efficient drug loading and regulated release at a designated spot. SCPs have recently been recognized as a possible therapeutic alternative to TDD systems for the treatment of a broad variety of medical conditions, encompassing malignancies (prostate, pancreatic, lung, skin, etc.), as well as tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. In this chapter we focus on the recent progress achieved in the synthesis of various SCPs and on the parameters that impact the unique characteristics and functions of these nanocomposites for TDD. Furthermore, a complete literature analysis will explain SCPs-based TDD transport, nonharmful effects, and biodistribution. The chapter also discusses the benefits and drawbacks of SCPs in terms of their current and potential medical applications in therapeutics.

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Soumya Katiyar, Abhay Dev Tripathi, Shikha Kumari, Ritika K. Singh, Avinash K. Chaurasia, Pradeep Srivastava, Abha Mishra, Chapter 6 – Porous silica and related composites for topical drug delivery, Editor(s): Rajendra Awasthi, Santosh Kumar Singh, Anurag Kumar Singh, In Nanotechnology in Biomedicine, Drug Delivery and Biomedical Applications of Porous Silicon-Based Nanocarriers, Elsevier, 2026, Pages 135-162, ISBN 9780443248023, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-24802-3.00017-2.

Chapter 12

Mesoporous silica-based nanocarriers in pulmonary drug delivery

Respiratory ailments have emerged as a significant clinical concern, ranking among the primary causes of global mortality due to the inadequacy of effective lung treatment in this century. This is largely attributed to challenges posed by pulmonary barriers that hinder drug delivery to the lungs. Conventional drug delivery systems pose considerable challenges in the treatment and control of pulmonary diseases. The extended and expensive treatment protocols, along with patient nonadherence, have led to drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis that are harder to manage. Furthermore, many such treatable medications suffer from limited water solubility, lesser bioavailability, and inadequate therapeutic effectiveness, especially at higher doses causing drug toxicity. In response to these challenges, innovative drug delivery carrier systems, like mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), have emerged as promising nanomedicines, especially due to their biocompatibility. Various clinical obstacles associated with major lung diseases and the role of nanomedicine in achieving effective drug delivery to the lungs need to be evaluated. The process of delivering drugs to the lungs is intricate and constrained by physiological, anatomical, and immunological barriers within the respiratory system. In this chapter, we explore how nanomedicine can effectively surmount these pulmonary barriers and provide guidance for the deliberate design of future nanoparticles to enhance lung treatments. Furthermore, this chapter aims to thoroughly outline the potential of MSNs as promising nanocarriers for pulmonary drug delivery, presenting a comprehensive summary of their applications in lung delivery to date while discussing their utilization in treating respiratory conditions in detail.

See the chapter

Dileep Kumar, Viswapriya Viswalingam, Chapter 12 – Mesoporous silica-based nanocarriers in pulmonary drug delivery, Editor(s): Rajendra Awasthi, Santosh Kumar Singh, Anurag Kumar Singh, In Nanotechnology in Biomedicine, Drug Delivery and Biomedical Applications of Porous Silicon-Based Nanocarriers, Elsevier, 2026, Pages 331-364, ISBN 9780443248023, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-24802-3.00010-X.

Chapter 17

Bioavailability enhancement of poorly soluble drugs with mesoporous silicon

An emerging strategy to address solubility-related bioavailability issues is the formulation of weakly water-soluble medications utilizing ordered mesoporous silica materials. Because of their large surface areas and capacity to physically adsorb large drug loads in either molecular or amorphous form, mesoporous silica carriers enable molecular state drug release in aqueous gastrointestinal environments. They also have the potential to supersaturate, which promotes improved absorption and increased bioavailability. They are useful for creating drug delivery systems with steady and beneficial preclinical developments. Because of its unique physicochemical properties, including high porosity, large surface area, adjustable pore size and dimensions, good biocompatibility, and significant loading capacity, mesoporous silicon material effectively encapsulates, controls, and occasionally delivers biologic agents intracellularly for clinical use. This chapter provides an overview of the most recent developments in fabrication of mesoporous silicon, its potential for drug delivery, mechanism for increasing the bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs, the biocompatibility of mesoporous silicon both in vivo and in vitro, and their usage as diagnostic tools. It has been shown that silica may sustainably and precisely store and release medications, including antibiotics. Therefore the potential benefits of mesoporous silicon in drug transport can potentially be increased by its production and chemical modifications for biomedical applications.

See the chapter

Saya Tyagi, Amrit Chattopadhaya, Priyamvada Gupta, Harshita Tiwari, Swati Singh, Ashish Verma, Vibhav Gautam,  Chapter 17 – Bioavailability enhancement of poorly soluble drugs with mesoporous silicon, Editor(s): Rajendra Awasthi, Santosh Kumar Singh, Anurag Kumar Singh, In Nanotechnology in Biomedicine, Drug Delivery and Biomedical Applications of Porous Silicon-Based Nanocarriers, Elsevier, 2026, Pages 469-490, ISBN 9780443248023, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-24802-3.00011-1.

See the full book here

Rajendra Awasthi, Santosh Kumar Singh, Anurag Kumar Singh, Drug Delivery and Biomedical Applications of Porous Silicon-Based Nanocarriers, Copyright © 2026 Elsevier Inc. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies, Published: 2025, Imprint: Elsevier, Language: English, ISBN: 978-0-443-24802-3, DOI: 10.1016/C2023-0-51095-X, View accessibility information