A　facile　vesicle-templating　approach　has　been　developed　for　synthesis　of　multi-shelled　mesoporous　silica　nanoparticles　(MMSNs)　through　a　self-assembly　of　cetyltrimethylammonium　bromide　(CTAB)　and　sodium　dodecyl　benzene　sulfonate　(SDBS).　The　obtained　MMSNs　displayed　a　spherical　morphology,　relatively　uniform　size　distribution　with　an　average　diameter　of　185　nm　and　a　good　biocompatibility.　Controlled　experiments　demonstrated　that　the　morphology　and　structure　of　MMSNs　were　mainly　determined　by　the　mass　ratio　of　CTAB/SDBS　in　the　reagents.　A　possible　growth　mechanism　of　MMSNs　was　proposed　based　on　TEM,　SEM,　and　N-2　sorption　analysis,　etc.　Moreover,　the　Au-decorated　MMSNs　(Au@MMSNs)　were　constructed　as　the　catalyst,　which　exhibited　superior　catalytic　activity　and　good　cycle　stability　for　the　reduction　of　4-nitrophenol　(4-NP).　Additionally,　the　MMSNs　also　showed　high　drug　loading　efficiency　and　the　controlled　pH-responsive　release　behavior　for　doxorubicin　hydrochloride　(DOX).　More　importantly,　the　anticancer　effect　of　DOX@MMSNs　towards　A549　cell　further　confirmed　MMSNs　could　be　employed　as　an　ideal　drug　carrier.　As　a　consequence,　the　MMSNs　prepared　are　potential　excellent　candidates　for　various　applications　including　nanoreactors,　drug　delivery,　and　cancer　therapy.　(C)　2016　Elsevier　Inc.　All　rights　reserved.