Multifunctional hollow mesoporous silica nanocages for cancer cell detection and the combined chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy.

Highly uniform and multifunctional hollow mesoporous silica nanocages that combined excellent properties (good biocompatibility, fluorescence imaging, drug delivery, and dual-mode cancer therapy) in one single system were synthesized. Dye molecules labeled in the nanocages could be used as traceable detectors in fluorescence imaging. A chemotherapeutic drug, doxorubicin (DOX), has been loaded into the nanocages with a high storage capacity due to the large cubic cavities and could be released through the penetrating mesoporous channels in a sustained fashion. Hematoporphyrin molecules were also covalently doped in the nanocages and allowed for photodynamic therapy. More importantly, a cooperative, synergistic therapy combining chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy exhibited high therapeutic efficacy for cancer therapy in vitro.