Aggregates of silicon quantum dots as a drug carrier: selective intracellular drug release based on pH-responsive aggregation/dispersion.

Using amine-modified silicon quantum dots (Si-QDs) with visible photoluminescence as a building block, drug-loaded Si-QD aggregates were assembled. The aggregates were designed to break down in response to the endosomal pH decrease, which enabled the selective intracellular release of the loaded drugs.