Biomedical application of organosilica nanoparticles

Abstract Organosilica nanoparticles are considered one of the promising nanomaterials for biomedical imaging and clinical applications due to their tunable properties, biocompatibility and multimodal imaging ability. In this review, we summarize the synthesis and functionalization of organosilica nanoparticles with a particular focus on their importance in biomedical imaging. By their high fluorescence intensity and unique photostability, organosilica nanoparticles provide capabilities for high-resolution and long-term imaging for in vivo, mesoscopic and microscopic applications. In addition, surface modifications of organosilica nanoparticles control cellular interactions, facilitating the accurate monitoring of cellular uptake, mitochondrial activity and endosomal sorting. Incorporating recent progress and experimental results, this review summarizes the multiformity and extensive prospects of organosilica nanoparticle-based imaging modalities and offers perspectives on future development in nanoparticle-driven biomedical imaging and therapeutic strategies.