AIE Luminogen-Functionalized Hollow Mesoporous Silica Nanospheres for Drug Delivery and Cell Imaging

Hollow mesoporous silica nanospheres functionalized with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) luminogen tetraphenylethene were prepared by postgrafting method. The as-prepared inorganic-organic hybrid nanospheres show bright blue emission and good biocompatibility as shown by MTT assays. The large cavities of the materials enable high loading of the anticancer drug doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX), and the mesoporous silica shells allow pH-dependent drug release. The materials can be effectively taken up by cells and function as luminescent bioprobes, demonstrating their potential application in imaging-guided therapy.