Controllable synthesis of hollow periodic mesoporous organosilica spheres with radial mesochannels and their degradable behavior

Hollow periodic mesoporous organosilica spheres (HPMOSs) have some important special applications owing to their unique properties, but current syntheses usually involve various template methods that are time-consuming. Herein, we report a highly efficient and controllable synthesis of HPMOSs with radial mesochannels, only through introducing a pre-hydrolysis process to the commercially available bissilylated organosilanes (R′O)3Si–R–Si(OR′)3 with CTAB. The HPMOSs are robust with a mean diameter as small as 45 nm and a shell thickness as thin as 14 nm. A cytotoxicity assay indicates that the obtained HPMOSs possess good biocompatibility, and the HPMOSs with thioether groups are degradable under a 10 mM glutathione microenvironment. The amphiphilic organosilica precursors derived from the pre-hydrolysis process, CTAB micelles, and ethanol contribute to the formation of the HPMOSs.