Defect-Rich SnO₂ Nanofiber as an Oxygen-Defect-Driven Photoenergy Shield against UV Light Cell Damage

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Most research on tin dioxide nanofibers (PNFs) focuses on gas sensing and photosensing.
• Fewer studies investigate the interaction between cells and these nanomaterials or their photoelectric properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the potential of metal oxide PNFs in converting photoenergy to bio-energy for biomaterial applications.
• To explore the photobiomodulation effect of defect-rich PNFs on cell-material interactions.
• To investigate the role of oxygen defects (V_O) in the photoelectric properties of PNFs.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of polycrystalline SnO₂ nanofibers (PNFs) using electrospinning.
• Characterization of surface morphology and oxygen defect structures (V_O) using synchrotron analysis.
• In vitro testing of PNFs with human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs-BM).

Main Results:

• Oxygen defects (V_O) were identified and their role in electron transfer and photoelectric effect was investigated.
• PNF conductivity increased 53.6-fold with enlarged grain size, enhancing the photoelectric effect.
• PNFs demonstrated in vitro removal of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and significantly influenced hMSC-BM viability and morphology via photobiomodulation.

Conclusions:

• Metal oxide nanofibers can be utilized as biomaterials to convert photoenergy into bio-energy.
• The photoelectric effect of PNFs, modulated by oxygen defects, can influence cell behavior and ROS levels.
• PNFs offer a novel approach for biomedical applications, moving beyond traditional environmental sensing roles.