Mesoporous silica nanoparticle facilitated drug release through cascade photosensitizer activation and cleavage of singlet oxygen sensitive linker.

A photoresponsive drug releasing system based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) was developed. A model drug was decorated on the surfaces via singlet oxygen sensitive linkers and a singlet oxygen-generating photosensitizer was loaded in the mesopores of the MSN. An on-demand drug releasing system was successfully developed by irradiation with long-wavelength light.