Poly(p-phenylenevinylene) functionalized fluorescent mesoporous silica nanoparticles for drug release and cell imaging

A fluorescent conjugated polymer of poly(p-phenylenevinylene) (PPV) was incorporated into the mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) by an ion-exchange and in situ polymerization route. The PPV functionalized MSNs were further coated with a layer of mesoporous silica shell to form the core-shell MSNs (PPV@MSN@nSiO(2)@mSiO(2)) by the controlled hydrolysis and condensation of silica precursor combining the in situ sol-gel process. The obtained fluorescent MSNs containing PPV were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N-2 adsorption/desorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectra. The results indicated that the novel containing-PPV MSNs had a diameter range of about 45-120 nm and a strong PL emission at 520 nm with a high fluorescent quantum yield (QY) up to 71%. The mesoporous features of fluorescence MSNs with or without core-shell structure imparted the capabilities of loading and releasing drug with a relatively high loading efficiency and a sustained release behavior of drugs. The investigations showed that these samples had a slow release effect of ibuprofen (IBU). In addition, the novel fluorescent MSNs were used in the in vitro researches of the imaging for human cervical cancer cells (HeLa). (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.