Nanocluster capped mesoporous nanoparticles, methods of making and use

A method of using a conjugate, comprising:

• exposing a conjugate to microbes, the conjugate comprising:
• an active agent disposed in a plurality of pores of a mesoporous nanoparticle;
• a plurality of metal nanoclusters sealing in the active agent via an electrostatic interaction;
• and
• a gate agent attached to the metal nanoclusters and positioned on an outside of the conjugate;
• wherein the gate agent interacts with a gate target sufficient to remove the metal nanocluster from the mesoporous nanoparticle and release the active agent;
• and
• treating the microbes with the released active agent.

A method of using a conjugate, comprising:

• exposing a conjugate to microbes, the conjugate comprising:
• an active agent disposed in a plurality of pores of a mesoporous nanoparticle;
• a plurality of metal nanoclusters sealing in the active agent via an electrostatic interaction;
• and
• a gate agent attached to the metal nanoclusters and positioned on an outside of the conjugate;
• and
• detecting a presence of the microbes.