One-pot synthesis of multifunctional mesoporous silica nanoparticle incorporated with zinc(II) phthalocyanine and iron oxide

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles incorporating zinc(II) phthalocyanine and Fe3O4 (ZnPc/Fe3O4/MSN) were synthesized via a simple one-pot procedure. The nanoparticles showed appropriate magnetic and optical characteristics for both magnetic resonance imaging and photodynamic therapy. The ZnPc/Fe3O4/MSN also offered the possibility of the controlled release of drugs. The change in the surface and pore structure that result from the presence of Fe3O4 and zinc(II) phthalocyanine modified the drug release kinetics beneficially.