Hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSNs) consist of a network of cavities confined by mesoporous shells that have emerged as promising tools for drug delivery or diagnostic. The physicochemical properties of HMSNs are dictated by the synthesis conditions but which conditions affect which property and how it impacts on biological interactions is unclear. Here by changing the concentration of the structure-directing agent (SDA), the pH and the ratio between SDA and added salt (NaCl) we determine the effects in size, morphology, surface charge and density or degree of compaction (physicochemical properties) of HMSNs and define their impact on their biological interactions with human colon cancer or healthy cells at the level of cellular uptake and viability. Increased size or density/degree of compaction of HMSNs increases their cytotoxicity. Strikingly, high salt concentrations in the synthesis medium leads to a spiky-shell morphology that provokes nuclear fragmentation and irreversible cell damage turning HMSNs lethal and unveiling intrinsic therapeutic potential. This strategy may open new avenues to design HMSNs nanoarchitectures with intrinsic therapeutic properties without incorporation of external pharmaceutical ingredients.

空心中孔二氧化硅纳米颗粒（HMSN）由由中孔壳限制的空腔网络组成，这些壳已成为有希望的药物递送或诊断工具。HMSN的理化性质由合成条件决定，但是尚不清楚哪个条件会影响哪种性质以及它如何影响生物相互作用。在这里，通过改变结构导向剂（SDA）的浓度，pH值和SDA与添加盐（NaCl）之间的比例，我们可以确定尺寸，形态，表面电荷以及密度或压实度（理化性质）的影响。 HMSNs并定义了它们在细胞摄取和生存力水平上对它们与人结肠癌或健康细胞生物学相互作用的影响。HMSN的大小或密度/压实度增加会增加其细胞毒性。令人惊讶的是，合成培养基中的高盐浓度导致了尖壳状的形态，该形态引起了核分裂和不可逆的细胞损伤，致使HMSN致死并具有内在的治疗潜力。该策略可能为设计具有固有治疗特性的HMSNs纳米体系结构开辟新途径，而无需引入外部药物成分。