Light‐ and pH‐Responsive Release of Doxorubicin from a Mesoporous Silica‐Based Nanocarrier

Abstract

Shining light for drug delivery: The anticancer drug doxorubicin (Dox, red ellipses in the graphic) was adsorbed on nitroveratryl carbamate-protected aminopropyl-functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs). Upon exposure to UV light, positively charged propylammonium moieties were formed on the surface, which caused expulsion of positively charged Dox molecules from the surface of the nanoparticles.