Publication date: Available online 25 March 2015 Source:Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine Author(s): Xueting Li , Min Xue , Otto G. Raabe , Holly L. Aaron , Ellen A. Eisen , James E. Evans , Fred A. Hayes , Sumire Inaga , Abderrahmane Tagmout , Minoru Takeuchi , Chris Vulpe , Jeffrey I. Zink , Subhash H. Risbud , Kent E. Pinkerton A highly versatile nanoplatform that couples mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) with an aerosol technology to achieve direct nanoscale delivery to the respiratory tract is described. This novel method can deposit MSN nanoparticles throughout the entire respiratory tract, including nasal, tracheobronchial and pulmonary regions using a water-based aerosol. This delivery method was successfully tested in mice by inhalation. The MSN nanoparticl...