Synthesis and characterization of silica-based nano-detoxifiers

Abstract

Intoxication is a major problem affecting all ages.1 Whether through unintentional contact in household, overdosing on easily accessible analgesics, intentional drug abuse or suicide attempts, poisoning could lead to serious harm.2 Several ways of toxin removal from the body have been applied in the medical field so far. Antidotes have been found to offer the most reliable solution. However, they are limited to only a few toxins and the identity of the harmful substance must be known.3 As an alternative, mesoporous silica nanoparticles were herein introduced with mesopores large enough to confine small organic molecules.4 Synthesis strategies were explored to obtain suitable silica-based oral nano-detoxifiers. Three different morphologies of particles were synthesized: dendritic- in a size of 120 nm and pore size of 3.8 nm, virus-like- in a diameter of 100 nm with a broad pore size range and nanorod silica nanoparticles with 170 nm length, aspect ratio of 2.3 and 3.2 nm pore size. The particles were grafted with phosphonate-, epoxide- and polyethylene glycol groups to enhance the particle toxin interaction and support colloidal stability. Their adsorption capacity was investigated by the loading of paracetamol, the model toxin of this project. Results showed that plain and phosphonated dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles captured most paracetamol in ethanol. Additional adsorption studies in simulating gastric and intestinal fluids were attempted. We herein present preliminary results for the application of mesoporous silica nanoparticles in the detoxifying field.