Photothermal and Photodynamic Cancer Therapies Using Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles have emerged as versatile agents for combined photothermal and photodynamic cancer therapies. Under specific light irradiation, TiO₂ materials generate heat (photothermal effect) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) (photodynamic effect), inducing tumour cell apoptosis and necrosis. Pristine TiO₂ is limited by its wide bandgap and ultraviolet activation; hence, recent approaches focus on bandgap modulation via doping, defect engineering or hybrid constructions to extend absorption into the visible and near-infrared (NIR) regions. Oxygen-deficient TiO₂, black or green titania, and core–shell architectures with noble metals or quantum dots have delivered enhanced light harvesting, improved ROS yield and elevated photothermal conversion efficiencies. Multifunctional platforms further integrate imaging modalities, targeted delivery ligands and chemotherapeutic payloads for image-guided, synergistic interventions. Biocompatibility, tumour specificity and deep-tissue penetration remain central challenges as research advances towards clinical translation of TiO₂-based phototherapies.

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Photothermal and Photodynamic Cancer Therapies Using Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in photothermal and photodynamic cancer therapies using titanium dioxide nanoparticles across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Photothermal therapy (PTT): Technique that converts light energy into heat to ablate cancer cells.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT): Approach that uses light-activated photosensitisers to generate cytotoxic reactive oxygen species.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Highly reactive molecules, including singlet oxygen and free radicals, that induce cellular damage.

Oxygen vacancy: A crystallographic defect in TiO₂ that narrows the bandgap and enhances light absorption.

Near-infrared (NIR): Light wavelengths (700–1700 nm) that penetrate deeper into biological tissues.

Bandgap: Energy difference between valence and conduction bands of a semiconductor, determining its light absorption threshold.

Photoconversion efficiency: Fraction of absorbed light energy converted into heat by a photothermal agent.

References

1. Oxygen‐Deficient Bioceramics: Combination of Diagnosis, Therapy, and Regeneration. Advanced Materials (2023).
2. A New Green Titania with Enhanced NIR Absorption for Mitochondria-Targeted Cancer Therapy. Theranostics (2017).
3. Gd2O3/b‐TiO2 composite nanoprobes with ultra‐high photoconversion efficiency for MR image‐guided NIR‐II photothermal therapy. Exploration (2022).
4. Zwitterionic Polymer-Gated Au@TiO2 Core-Shell Nanoparticles for Imaging-Guided Combined Cancer Therapy. Theranostics (2019).
5. Insights into Theranostic Properties of Titanium Dioxide for Nanomedicine. Nano-Micro Letters (2020).
6. N-Doped Graphene Quantum Dots/Titanium Dioxide Nanocomposites: A Study of ROS-Forming Mechanisms, Cytotoxicity and Photodynamic Therapy. Biomedicines (2022).