Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles can Induce Apoptosis in Cancer Cells

Nanotechnology involves the creation and manipulation of materials at the nanoscale to create products that exhibit novel properties. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs), as one of the top five nanoparticles in annual production, are widely used in industries ranging from healthcare to drug delivery. The properties of TiO2-NPs have raised concerns regarding toxicity. Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining and a flow cytometer were used to detect apoptosis. A significant increase was observed in apoptosis at different concentrations of TiO2-NPs (50-100 µg/ml) varying between 25-40% apoptosis by 24 h. It is recommended that this study be performed in vivo to investigate the apoptotic and toxic effects of these substances further.