Application of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles in cancer therapies

Abstract

Cancer is one of the most common diseases all over the world; many people suffer from diverse types of cancer. However, currently there is no exact cure or therapy developed for cancer. On the other hand, nanoparticles are defined as microscopic particles that have dimensions less than 100 nm and they are known for their usage in health sciences and medicine, however a few harmful effects on different animal cells. Therefore, researchers began to use nanoparticles for cancer therapies and to develop new methods for much more effective therapies. Nanoparticles in cancer studies are commonly used in photodynamic therapy (PDT) and sonodynamic therapy (SDT) as a sensitising agent, in computed tomography imaging (CT) and radiation therapy as an enhancement agent, in dual-mode image contrast and enhancement therapy as an image contrast agent. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs) are known as commonly used nanoparticles in medical applications and hence in cancer studies. They are used in PDT, SDT and drug delivery systems. As cancer continues to affect people, new therapeutics and therapies will be developed and nanotechnology for this aim will be an important approach for the researchers.

Keywords: Nanoparticles; cancer; photodynamic therapy; sonodynamic therapy; titanium dioxide.