Simin Sharifi - Dental and Periodontal Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Elaheh Dalir Abdolahinia - Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Biomedicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Solmaz Maleki Dizaj - Department of Dental Biomaterials, Faculty of Dentistry, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Touraj Nejatian - Eastman Dental Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University College London, London, UK.
Zahra Seydi - Department of Dental Biomaterials, Faculty of Dentistry, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Maryam Kouhsoltani - Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Yashar Rezaei - Department of Dental Biomaterials, Faculty of Dentistry, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Masumeh Mokhtarpour - Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.

The aim of this study was to prepare, the physicochemical assessment and the cytotoxicity testing of cisplatin-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles against head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell line (HNSCC). Cisplatin-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles were prepared through the precipitation method. The prepared nanoparticles were evaluated by conventional methods in terms of physicochemical properties. The cytotoxic effect of the nanoparticles and the free cisplatin were assessed on the head and neck squamous carcinoma cell line. The results showed that the prepared nanoparticles with nanometer size and the negative surface charge belonged to the MCM-۴۱ silica family. TEM images established the mesoporous construction and the rod-shaped morphology of the produced nanoparticles. Based on Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, the specific surface area, pore volume, and pore diameter decreased compared to free mesoporous silica because of drug filling into the mesoporous pores. The nanoparticles showed a two stage release pattern that continued slowly until the ۳۵th day. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles displayed no significant cytotoxic effect on HNSCC. Cisplatin displayed a cytotoxic effect with IC۵۰ of ۸۲.۰۱ μM and ۳۳.۶۷ μM in ۲۴ h and ۴۸ h incubation times, respectively. However, cisplatin-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles displayed a cytotoxic effect with IC۵۰ of ۲۶.۱۷ μM and ۱۳.۲۸ μM in ۲۴ and ۴۸ h incubation times, respectively. The results can highlight the capability of cisplatin-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles to be applied in the treatment of oral cancerous cells.

Anticancer effect, Cisplatin, Head & Neck Squamous Cell, Cytotoxicity, Oral cancer, Silica nanoparticles