Dual Synthetic Pathways for Organotin-Functionalized Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles: Targeted Therapeutic Platforms with Folic Acid and PEI Formulation

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, with a high mortality rate. Moreover, the treatments currently used to address this disease are sometimes ineffective and cause numerous side effects. For this reason, the search for new treatments that can overcome these challenges is a growing field of research. One potential solution under investigation is the use of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs). These materials possess excellent properties, making them attractive as starting platforms for various compounds. In this study, different compounds with distinct properties were anchored onto these nanoplatforms. The first is polyethyleneimine (PEI), which, when formulated within the nanoparticle, increases its bioavailability. The second is folic acid (FA), a molecule that enables active targeting of tumor cells. Finally, an organotin(IV) complex was incorporated via two different anchoring strategies to provide therapeutic action. This multifunctional platform thus combines three activities simultaneously. MTT assay studies revealed that the final material, MSN-TEDTH-PEI-FA-TR-Sn, demonstrates potential against the MCF-7 tumor cell line while showing no toxicity to the healthy Hek 293T cell line. These findings make it an interesting candidate for future <i>in vivo</i> trials.