Berberine-loaded mesoporous silica nanomaterials inhibit pancreatic cancer targeting cancer stem cells

Abstract Objectives To investigate the anti-pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) effect of mesoporous silica nanoparticles loaded with berberine (MSN-BBR) both in vitro and in vivo. Methods Disulfide-bridged MSN loaded with berberine (BBR) was synthesized and characterized. The study assessed the anti-PDAC effect and the impact on the stemness of pancreatic cancer stem cells (PCSCs) in Panc1 cells and mice. Pathological morphology in the pancreas of mice was evaluated through immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence staining, while protein expressions were analyzed via western blot. Key findings MSN-BBR glutathione-degraded and released BBR. Moreover, MSN-BBR demonstrated the inhibition of Panc1 cell viability and the stemness ability of PCSC by suppressing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway. Consistent with these cellular outcomes, MSN-BBR also impeded the growth of pancreatic tumors by specifically targeting PCSC. Conclusions MSN-BBR exhibited degradation and BBR release ability. Notably, MSN-BBR exhibited enhanced efficacy in combating PDAC by selectively focusing on PCSC compared to BBR.