NIR-triggered anticancer drug delivery by upconverting nanoparticles with integrated azobenzene-modified mesoporous silica

Photomediated drug release: Silica-coated upconverting nanoparticles with mesopores modified by azobenzene molecules were synthesized. The azobenzene molecules make possible the release of the anticancer drug doxorubicin from the pore network of the mesoporous silica outer layer by irradiation with near-infrared (NIR) laser light. The release is regulated by the trans-cis photoisomerization of the azobenzene molecules (see picture).