Progress on the multifunctional mesoporous silica-based nanotheranostics

Inorganic mesoporous nano-biomaterials have broad application potentials in molecular imaging, targeted drug delivery, tissue engineering, gene therapy, and non-invasive surgical therapy, etc., which are of great significance in the early diagnosis and efficient therapy of serious diseases such as cancer. This article reviews the most recent research advances and outlooks future development trends of mesoporous nanotheranostics based on clinical requirements, the principle of nano-synthetic chemistry and the design strategy of multifunctional mesoporous nano-biomaterials, by combining the recent achievements of our group. By integrating various functions into mesoporous silica nanoparticles to endow them with special capabilities, the mesoporous nanotheranostics could act as the contrast agents for clinical molecular imaging (magnetic resonance imaging, fluorescent imaging and the combinations of various imaging modalities), as well as the carriers for the encapsulation and delivery of drugs for the therapy of diseases (chemotherapy, gene therapy, photodynamic therapy and non-invasive surgical therapy). With the development of bio-nanotechnology and nano-synthetic chemistry, mesoporous nanotheranostics are expected to satisfy the clinical requirements following the systematic investigation of their biological effects and bio-safety, and finally find their applications in clinical practices to benefit human beings.