Up to 50 % dye relative to the dead weight may be loaded into poly(organosiloxane) nanoparticles that contain quaternary ammonium groups (vessels 1–3 with hydrophilic thymol blue as a model substance), whereas nanoparticles without quaternary ammonium groups take up no dye (vessels 4, 5). The loading depends inter alia on the construction of the nanoparticles (core–shell, hollow spheres), on the amphiphilicity, which is adjustable by synthesis, and on the method of the phase transfer.