TiO2 Nanotubes as an agent for Cancer Thermotherapy based on Near-infrared Light Irradiation

초록

In recent years, new thermotherapies based on nanoshells and more recently single-wall carbon nanotubes(SWCNT) in combination with near-infrared(NIR) light irradiation have received significant attention as efficient techniques to destroy cancer cells selectively. We found that TiO2 nanotubes(TNT) can also be utilized as a therapeutic agent that generates heat sufficient to kill cancer cells with out toxicity upon exposure to NIR light. In this paper, we report the heat generation abilities of TNT-suspension, TNT/NaCl-suspension and TNT/photophate-buffered saline(PBS)-suspension during continuous radiation of NIR light and the in vitro cell test results obtained by using thermotherapy based on TNT and NIR light irradiation. TNT/NaCl-suspension showed heat generation ability superial to TNT-suspension and TNT/PBS-suspension. In vitro cell test results suggest that thermotherapy based on TNT in combination with NIR light irradiation is an efficient technique to destroy cancer cells selectively without damaging the surrounding healthy cells.