Surface chemistry influences cancer killing effect of TiO2 nanoparticles

✍ Scribed by Paul Thevenot; Jai Cho; Dattatray Wavhal; Richard B. Timmons; Liping Tang

• Book ID: 103849473
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2008
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 574 KB
• Volume: 4
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1549-9634
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2008.04.001

✦ Synopsis

Photocatalyzed titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) nanoparticles have been shown to eradicate cancer cells. However, the required in situ introduction of ultraviolet light limits the use of such a therapy in humans. In the present study the nonphotocatalyic anticancer effect of surface-functionalized TiO 2 was examined. Nanoparticles bearing -OH, -NH 2 , or -COOH surface groups were tested for their effect on in vitro survival of several cancer and control cell lines. The cells tested included B16F10 melanoma, Lewis lung carcinoma, JHU prostate cancer cells, and 3T3 fibroblasts. Cell viability was observed to depend on particle concentrations, cell types, and surface chemistry. Specifically, -NH 2 and -OH groups showed significantly higher toxicity than -COOH. Microscopic and spectrophotometric studies revealed nanoparticle-mediated cell membrane disruption leading to cell death. The results suggest that functionalized TiO 2 , and presumably other nanoparticles, can be surfaceengineered for targeted cancer therapy.