Effect of nanostructured TiO2 crystal phase on photoinduced apoptosis of breast cancer epithelial cells

Abstract

The obtained results indicated that pure anatase TiO₂ nanoparticles exhibit superior cytotoxic effects compared to anatase-rutile mixtures of the same size. The molecular mechanism of TiO₂ nanoparticle cytotoxicity involved increased Bax expression and caspase-mediated PARP inactivation, thus resulting in DNA fragmentation and cell apoptosis.