Abstract
The work developed in this thesis is devoted to the design of functional hybrid silica platforms for controlled delivery of therapeutics (e.g. oncologic drugs, antibiotics, etc.) to improve their performance and limit their side effect. The different types of silylated hybrid materials synthesized and described herein, including (1) pH-sensitive nanoparticles; (2) multi-functional periodic mesoporous organosilicas (PMO) mesostructured via PIC micelles; and (3) sophisticated core-shell and raspberry-type PMO hybrids; demonstrate hierarchical organization over multiple length scales, providing appealing features for drug delivery applications.The manuscript focusses, in particular, on the mechanisms controlling pore nanostructuring, using different type of structuring agents (e.g. CTAB, polyion complex (PIC) micelles, silica seeds or decane droplets) and on the subsequent structure-function relationship. The research project also demonstrated the potential of specific systems for future applications in biomedicine articulated.