Self‐Sealing Porous Silicon‐Calcium Silicate Core–Shell Nanoparticles for Targeted siRNA Delivery to the Injured Brain

Abstract

Calcium ions react with silicic acid released from dissolving porous silicon nanoparticles to create an insoluble calcium silicate shell. The calcium silicate shell traps and protects an siRNA payload, which can be delivered to neuronal tissues in vitro or in vivo. Gene delivery is enhanced by the action of targeting and cell-penetrating peptides attached to the calcium silicate shell.