Peptide p160-coated silica nanoparticles applied in photodynamic therapy

Peptide p160-conjugated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) were fabricated and loaded with photosensitizer hypocrellin B (HB). The results indicate that the nanocomposites have better selectivity for cancer cells and higher cytotoxicity in photodynamic therapy in vitro. The nanocomposites can be used as a novel candidate in photodynamic therapy. This may be a general and promising method to modify nanoparticles to improve their cell affinity.