IntroductionUnicellular diatom microalgae are a promising natural source of porous
biosilica (۱). These organismscreate a highly structured and porous silica shell, known as the frustule, around their membrane .)۲(Diatoms are micro-sized algae with unique porous silica cell walls, found globally in aquaticecosystems, with around ۱۸,۰۰۰ identified species (۳). Due to their adaptability and large-scalediatomite deposits, they are valuable for producing
biosilica and have diverse industrial applications(۴). When extracted from living algae or fossilized diatomaceous earth, this biocompatible, non-toxicmaterial shows great potential in micro/nano-devices, drug delivery, theranostics, and various medicalapplications (۵). Over the past ۳۰ years,
diatoms have become a valuable alternative to synthetic silica,meeting several pharmaceutical needs for
drug delivery vectors, biosensing supports, and photoniccrystals (۶). This review focuses on the application of
diatoms in
drug delivery systems for cancertreatment.MethodsWe conducted our search using the PubMed Database and Google Scholar search engine, focusing onarticles published between ۲۰۱۵ and ۲۰۲۴ with relevant keywords. After screening the results, weidentified four articles that supported our hypothesis.ResultsThis review highlights several studies on using genetically engineered and chemically modified diatomsfor drug delivery. Kröger and Voelcker's group demonstrated the potential of genetically engineeredThalassiosira pseudonana
diatoms to deliver poorly water-soluble
anticancer drugs, camptothecin andits derivative, to cancer cells, leading to tumor regression in mice (۷). Other studies used chemicalsurface modifications to enhance drug delivery. For example, Terracciano et al. functionalized diatomnanoparticles to deliver sorafenib to breast cancer cells with low toxicity and high drug uptake (۴).Similarly, Sasirekha et al. and Kabir et al. explored diatom-based platforms for encapsulating anddelivering
anticancer drugs like doxorubicin, curcumin, and paclitaxel.)۸(ConclusionDiatoms, with their unique ۳D structures, high surface area, and biocompatibility, have becomevaluable for
drug delivery applications. Their silica frustules can be easily modified to load and releasetherapeutic molecules in a controlled manner (۹). Diatom-derived
biosilica has been approved for use in food and pharmaceuticals, and ongoing research focuses on improving drug delivery, including targeted release at specific body locations (۱۰). Innovations such as multiple coating layers may enhance the effectiveness of these natural drug carriers, with the potential for significant advancements in micro and nanotechnology for pharmaceutical use.
