Encapsulating magnetic and fluorescent mesoporous silica into thermosensitive chitosan microspheres for cell imaging and controlled drug release in vitro

- Inorganic/organic core/shell hybrid microspheres were prepared by one-pot graft copolymerization.
- The microspheres exhibited magnetic/fluorescent/thermo-/pH-sensitive properties.
- The microspheres were developed toward fluorescence imaging of cancer cells.
- Drug loading, release and cytotoxicity of the microsphere carriers were studied in detail.