| Abstract: | In one aspect, the invention provides novel monodisperse,
colloidally-stable, toroidal mesoporous silica nanoparticles (TMSNPs)
which are synthesized from ellipsoid-shaped mesoporous silica
nanoparticles (MSNPs) which are prepared using an ammonia basecatalyzed
method under a low surfactant conditions. Significantly, the TMSNPs can
be loaded simultaneously with a small molecule active agent, a siRNA, a
mRNA, a plasmid and other cargo and can be used in the diagnosis and/or
treatment of a variety of disorders, including a cancer, a bacterial
infection and/or a viral infection, among others. Related protocells,
pharmaceutical compositions and therapeutic and diagnostic methods are
also provided. |