Preparation and application of carbon quantum dots filled hollow mesoporous silica nanospheres

Abstract

Hollow mesoporous silica and carbon quantum dots play an important role in the field of biological applications. In this study, a nano-scale hollow mesoporous silica nanosphere (HMSN) was used as the main body of a drug transport system, which filled with a small amount of carbon quantum dots. The hollow mesoporous silica structure provides a large specific surface area and cavity structure for efficient drug loading. And the carbon quantum dots could provide good fluorescence for imaging. By filling carbon quantum dots inside of silica nanospheres and in mesopores on the surface, the hollow mesoporous silica nanospheres became fluorescent and could be used as a fluorescent probe. And the potential photothermal effect of the internal carbon quantum dots also makes it possible to achieve controlled drug release through temperature changes.