{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,15]],"date-time":"2026-09-15T12:04:18Z","timestamp":1789473858977,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":39,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,15]],"date-time":"2026-09-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1789430400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is among the most common cancers worldwide. Despite therapeutic advances, patient survival remains low due to recurrence, metastasis, and the severe side effects of conventional chemotherapy. Doxorubicin (DOX) is an effective drug; however, its cardiotoxicity and non-specific distribution limit its clinical use. This study aimed to design a pH-sensitive smart nanocarrier based on chitosan-coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN-DOX@CS) for targeted DOX release in the acidic tumor environment.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The nanoparticles were synthesized by the sol\u2013gel method and coated with chitosan. Physicochemical characteristics (FESEM, DLS, FTIR), drug release at pH 7.4 and 5.5, and cytotoxicity (MTT) on HNSCCs were evaluated.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      The results showed that the nanoparticles are semi-spherical (\u223c145\u00a0nm) with a positive surface charge (+28.6\u00a0mV). Drug release at blood pH was only 18%, while at tumor pH it exceeded 76%. The empty nanocarrier was non-toxic (&amp;gt;90% cell survival), and the drug-loaded version exhibited greater toxicity than the free drug at 48\u00a0h (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      &amp;lt; 0.05).\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>In conclusion, MSN-DOX@CS is presented as a safe and effective platform for targeted chemotherapy of HNSCC, with reduced systemic side effects and increased intracellular efficacy.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fbioe.2026.1905837","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,15]],"date-time":"2026-09-15T11:31:08Z","timestamp":1789471868000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Chitosan-coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles for pH-responsive 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