Nanoporous Silica Nanoparticles with Janus Functionalization for Enhanced Cell Uptake and Drug Delivery

Although colloidal Janus nanoparticles have significant biomedical application potential, their interaction with cells has been relatively less studied. Here we have demonstrated enhanced cellular interaction and uptake of nanoparticles due to Janus functionalization. In particular, we have synthesized 50–100 nm porous silica particles where one side of each particle is terminated with arginine and the other side is terminated with dextran. These Janus nanoparticles exhibit lower colloidal stability compared to isotropically functionalized arginine/dextran, and this property induces enhanced cellular interaction/uptake. The porous structure of these Janus nanoparticles is used for the loading of small-molecule drugs and then for enhanced cell delivery of drugs with enhanced therapeutic performance. Results suggest that Janus nanoparticles with anisotropic functionalization have a wide range of biomedical application potentials that are yet to be explored.