Jeffersson Krishan Trigo-GutierrezSerena MedagliaElena AznarRamón Martínez‐MáñezEwerton Garcia de Oliveira Mima2026-03-222026-03-22202510.1021/acsomega.5c06786https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.5c06786https://andeanlibrary.org/handle/123456789/78429Drug delivery systems (DDS) are promising tools to enhance antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy (aPDT) by improving the targeted delivery and controlled release of photosensitizers. In this study, we introduce a light-responsive DDS based on curcumin-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles featuring a gold nanostar core and paraffin capping, designed specifically for near-infrared (NIR)-triggered photothermal release. This multicomponent nanoplatform uniquely combines photothermal activation with light-controlled drug delivery for antimicrobial applications. The synthesized nanoparticles exhibited a mean diameter below 500 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.154, and a surface charge of -21.9 mV. Upon NIR irradiation at 1200 J/cm², curcumin release was approximately 90%. In planktonic bacterial cultures, aPDT mediated by this system led to reductions of 3.16 log₁ ₀ and 2.18 log₁ ₀ in colony-forming units (CFUs) for <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>, respectively. For bacterial biofilms, a higher curcumin concentration (1000 μg/mL) resulted in CFU reductions of 2.16 log₁ ₀ and 1.77 log₁ ₀ for <i>S. aureus</i> and <i>P. aeruginosa</i>, respectively. This study demonstrated a NIR-activated nanocarrier for the controlled release of curcumin and effective inactivation of both planktonic and biofilm-associated bacteriaoffering a new approach to improve the precision and efficacy of aPDT.enCurcuminPhotothermal therapyNanocarriersAntimicrobialMesoporous silicaDrug deliveryChemistryPhotodynamic therapyNanoparticleDispersityarticle