TiO₂ nanoflowers based humidity sensor and cytotoxic activity.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanomaterials are widely explored for their unique properties.
• Hydrothermal synthesis offers a versatile route for fabricating TiO2 nanostructures.
• Investigating both sensing performance and biological effects is crucial for practical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize TiO2 nanoflowers using a hydrothermal method.
• To systematically evaluate the humidity sensing performance of TiO2 nanoflowers.
• To assess the cytotoxic activity of TiO2 nanoflowers on human HepG2 cell lines.

Main Methods:

• Hydrothermal synthesis was employed to create TiO2 nanoflowers.
• Humidity sensing performance was measured at room temperature.
• Cytotoxicity assays involved culturing HepG2 cells with varying TiO2 nanoflower concentrations for 24, 48, and 72 hours.

Main Results:

• The TiO2 nanoflower-based sensors exhibited high sensitivity (~815%) at room temperature.
• Optimal response and recovery times were recorded at approximately 143 s and 33 s, respectively.
• TiO2 nanoflowers demonstrated a time-dependent inhibition of HepG2 cell proliferation.

Conclusions:

• TiO2 nanoflowers are promising materials for room-temperature humidity sensors.
• The synthesized TiO2 nanoflowers exhibit dose- and time-dependent cytotoxic effects on HepG2 cells.
• Further research can explore the dual application potential of these TiO2 nanoflowers.