Enhanced drug delivery using surface-roughened MgO@Silica nanoparticles loaded with doxorubicin

Nanoparticle based drug carriers have attracted considerable interest in drug delivery applications. However, their low drug loading efficiency of certain chemotherapeutic agents, insufficient cellular uptake, and limited in-vitro efficacy remain a significant challenge. In this study, we have synthesized and characterized MgO@silica core-shell nanoparticles with distinct surface morphologies: MgO@silica-smooth(S) and MgO@silica-rough(R). The rough-surfaced MgO@silica-R exhibited a significantly higher surface area and drug encapsulation efficiency (∼97 %) for the anticancer drug doxorubicin (Dox), compared to the smooth MgO@silica-S counterpart (∼37 %). The rough morphology of MgO@silica-R resulted in sustained drug release and a 2.5-fold increase in cellular uptake inside C6 glioma cells as compared to free Dox. Dox-loaded MgO@silica-R showed superior anticancer efficacy, inducing ∼90 % cell death, surpassing both MgO@silica-S and free Dox. These findings underscore the potential of MgO@silica-based nanoparticles, particularly those with rough surface properties, as effective carriers for targeted drug delivery and cancer treatment.