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Smart silica nanobombs: An “off ‐ on” type of photodynamic therapy agent was developed from hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSNPs), to enable not only an enhanced delivery of photosensitizers to cancer cells, but also a selective turn ‐ on of fluorescence signal and phototoxicity inside the cancer cells. Both the fluorescence and singlet ‐ oxygen generation of the photosensitizer were quenched (i.e. OFF) when loaded inside the HMSNPs. After internalization of HMSNPs into cancer cells, the photosensitizer was released from the HMSNPs, thereby regaining fluorescence and phototoxicity (i.e. ON). More information can be found in the Communication by Yongdoo Choi et   al. on page   1700 in Issue 14, 2017 (DOI: 10.1002/asia.201700371). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we show that 'off-on' type of photodynamic therapy agents could be developed using hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSNPs), which can be used not only for enhancing delivery of photosensitizers to cancer cells but also for enabling switchable optical properties of the photosensitizers. Fluorescence and singlet oxygen generation of the photosensitizer-loaded HMSNP are turned off in its native state. In vitro cell studies showed that this HMSNP-based 'off-on' agent may have potential utility in selective fluorescence detection and photodynamic therapy of cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]