20-nm-sized mesoporous silica nanoparticles with porphyrin photosensitizers for in vitro photodynamic therapy

We report the synthesis of 20-nm-sized mesoporous silica nanoparticles encapsulating three different porphyrin photosensitizers (PS). Synthesized by the sol–gel method, in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide surfactant and tetraorthosilicate as silica source, we developed those nanoparticles with the aim of treating cancer cells using photodynamic therapy. The colloidal stability, due to the PEG-silane chain grafted on the surface, was demonstrated at 37 °C in cell culture medium. Then, nanoparticles were functionalized by silylated squarate mannose and used in MCF-7 breast cancer cells for one-photon therapy. Promising results were obtained after 5 h of incubation.