Ag-doping regulates the cytotoxicity of TiO2 nanoparticles via oxidative stress in human cancer cells

作者：Ahamed Maqusood; Khan M A Majeed; Akhtar Mohd Javed; Alhadlaq Hisham A; Alshamsan Aws

来源：Scientific Reports, 2017, 7(1): 17662.

DOI：10.1038/s41598-017-17559-9

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>We investigated the anticancer potential of Ag-doped (0.5–5%) anatase TiO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> NPs. Characterization study showed that dopant Ag was well-distributed on the surface of host TiO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> NPs. Size (15 nm to 9 nm) and band gap energy (3.32 eV to 3.15 eV) of TiO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> NPs were decreases with increasing the concentration of Ag dopant. Biological studies demonstrated that Ag-doped TiO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> NP-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis in human liver cancer (HepG2) cells. The toxic intensity of TiO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> NPs was increases with increasing the amount of Ag-doping. The Ag-doped TiO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> NPs further found to provoke reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and antioxidants depletion. Toxicity induced by Ag-doped TiO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> NPs in HepG2 cells was efficiently abrogated by antioxidant N-acetyl-cysteine (ROS scavenger). We also found that Ag-doped TiO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> NPs induced cytotoxicity and oxidative stress in human lung (A549) and breast (MCF-7) cancer cells. Interestingly, Ag-doped TiO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> NPs did not cause much toxicity to normal cells such as primary rat hepatocytes and human lung fibroblasts. Overall, we found that Ag-doped TiO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> NPs have potential to selectively kill cancer cells while sparing normal cells. This study warranted further research on anticancer potential of Ag-doped TiO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> NPs in various types of cancer cells and <jats:italic>in vivo</jats:italic> models.</jats:p>

• 出版日期2017-12-15