Photoexcited TiO2 nanoparticles through •OH-radicals induced malignant cells to necrosis

Abstract

Photoexcited TiO₂ nanoparticles have been used to cause oxidative stress in SPC-A1 lung adenocarcinoma cells in this study. It is commonly considered that hydroxyl free radicals can oxidatively stress cells to apoptosis, but through this experiment, we found that oxidative stress produced by photoexcited TiO₂ nanoparticles in the malignant cells led to cell necrosis, not, as it is thought, apoptosis. This was confirmed by TEM observation and DNA electrophoresis analysis. The possible mechanism of oxidative-stress-induced necrosis by photoexcited TiO₂ nanoparticles was discussed. The research revealed a novel possible way to kill tumor cells in the future.