Functionalized silica nanorings, methods of making same, and uses thereof

A silica nanoring comprising a silica matrix, a hydrodynamic size of 7 nm to 15 nm, a single pore comprising a diameter of 4 nm to 8 nm, and an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein at least a portion of or substantially all of the outer surface, and optionally, at least a portion of or substantially all of the inner surface, or all of the surfaces of the silica nanoring are functionalized with polyethylene glycol (PEG) groups.

A silica nanoring comprising a silica matrix, defining a single aperture and comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein at least a portion of or substantially all of the outer surface, and optionally, at least a portion of or substantially all of the inner surface, or all of the surfaces of the silica nanoring are functionalized with polyethylene glycol (PEG) groups, functionalized PEG groups, or a combination thereof, and at least a portion of or all the silica matrix of the silica nanoring is microporous,

• wherein the at least a portion of or all of the outer surface is functionalized with PEG groups, independently at each occurrence, comprising 6, 7, 8, or 9 ethylene oxide groups, and, optionally, one or more drug group(s), and at least a portion of or all of the inner surface is functionalized with PEG groups, independently at each occurrence comprising 2, 3, or 4 ethylene oxide groups, and, optionally, one or more drug groups(s), and the silica matrix of the nanoring comprises one or more fluorescent group(s) covalently bound to the silica matrix.