Chitosan-coated ultrapure silicon nanoparticles produced by laser ablation: biomedical potential in nano-oncology as a tumor-targeting nanosystem

, all the studied parameters (animal behavior, organs' morphology, and histopathology) were in accord with the absence of toxicity due to SiNPs-CH, confirming their biocompatibility and even size and surface charge were modified compared to bare nanoparticles. Moreover an increased time in the bloodstream circulation of up to 7 days was observed, indicating the stealth of the nanoparticles, which could escape opsonization and premature elimination by macrophages and the reticuloendothelial system. As evidenced by silicon assessment, the interaction of the SiNPs-CH with the liver and spleen was significantly reduced compared to the bare nanoparticles. At the same time, SiNPs-CH were concentrated progressively in tumors from 12.03% after 1 day up to 39.55% after 7 days, confirming their uptake by the tumor microenvironment through the enhanced permeability retention effect. Subsequently, the silicon level declined progressively down to 33.6% after 15 days, evidencing the degradation of pH-sensitive SiNPs-CH under the acidic tumor microenvironment. Taken together, the stealthy SiNPs-CH exhibited an ideal biodistribution profile within the tumor microenvironment with a sustainable biodegradation and elimination profile, indicating their promising application in the nano-oncology field as a tumor-targeting system.