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Updated: Jun 3, 2026
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In Situ Detection and Single Cell Quantification of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles Using Nuclear Microprobe Analysis
Published on: February 3, 2018
Titanium dioxide nanoparticles in advanced imaging and nanotherapeutics
Tijana Rajh1, Nada M Dimitrijevic, Elena A Rozhkova
1Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, USA.
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|March 23, 2011
Summary
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles were functionalized with biomolecules to create nanobio hybrids. These hybrids show potential for targeted cancer cell destruction using photocatalysis.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Semiconductor photocatalysis with nanoparticulate titanium dioxide (TiO2) is effective for catalysis, water remediation, and solar cells.
- Metal oxide semiconductor colloids possess photocatalytic properties due to incomplete surface metal atom coordination, enabling charge trapping and chemical modification.
- Enediol linkers like dopamine can bridge semiconductors to biomolecules, creating nanobio hybrids.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize high-crystallinity, water-soluble TiO2 nanoparticles and their nanobio composites.
- To establish methods for imaging nanoparticles within single cells using synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence.
- To demonstrate the application of TiO2-based nanobio photocatalysts for targeted lysis of disordered cells.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis and characterization of 5 nm TiO2 particles and their nanobio composites.
- Preparation of cellular samples for synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence imaging.
- Experimental setup for applying TiO2-based nanobio photocatalysts.
Main Results:
- Development of water-soluble, high-crystallinity TiO2 nanoparticles (5 nm).
- Successful creation of nanobio hybrids by linking TiO2 to biomolecules.
- Demonstration of targeted cell lysis using TiO2 nanobio photocatalysts.
Conclusions:
- TiO2 nanobio hybrids combine semiconductor properties with biomolecular specificity.
- These nanobio hybrids offer a platform for advanced nanotherapeutics, including targeted cancer cell destruction.
- The developed methods enable advanced imaging and application of nanobio photocatalysts in cellular environments.
