Dendronized mesoporous silica nanoparticles provide an internal endosomal escape mechanism for successful cytosolic drug release

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) attract increasing interest in the field of gene and drug delivery due to their versatile features as a multifunctional drug delivery platform. Here, we describe poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendron-functionalized MSNs that fulfill key prerequisites for a controllable intracellular drug release. In addition to high loading capacity, they offer 1) low cytotoxicity, showing no impact on the metabolism of endothelial cells, 2) specific cancer cell targeting due to receptor-mediated cell uptake, 3) a redox-driven cleavage of disulfide bridges allowing for stimuli-responsive cargo release, and most importantly, 4) a specific internal trigger based on the high buffering capacity of PAMAM dendrons to provide endosomal escape.