Silica-coated inorganic nanocomposites in biomedicine

Inorganic-oxide nanocomposites demonstrate considerable potential across multiple disciplines, with silica-coated inorganic nanomaterials (IONMs@SiO2) emerging as particularly promising candidates for biomedical applications due to their tunable core–shell architectures. This review examines recent advancements in IONMs@SiO2, covering synthesis methodologies from classical Stöber processes to innovative approaches enabling precise control over silica shell porosity, architecture, and morphology. The biomedical applications in imaging, drug delivery, synergistic therapy, and theranostics are comprehensively discussed, with particular emphasis on the multifunctional roles of the silica shell in enhancing performance/colloidal stability, reducing core toxicity, and serving as a versatile platform for drug assembly and surface engineering. Furthermore, a structure-selection framework to inform proper silica shell design for specific application requirements has been outlined. Finally, the challenges in future biomedical application and clinical trials are addressed in this narrative review.