TiO2 photoreaction application in bladder cancer cells

• Grant number: 19/12318-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2019
• End date: July 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Applied Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Ricardo Carneiro Borra
• Grantee: Lida Dubraska Manrique Pérez
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07296-2 - CDMF - Center for the Development of Functional Materials, AP.CEPID

Abstract

The clinical treatment for bladder cancer is still based on the immunological stimulation of the BCG. However, in some cases this treatment is not successful enough, or in some cases, can cause some collateral effects. Then, the arising of the nanoparticles functionality and nanotechnology, opens a world of possibilities for the development of new antitumoral therapies. The TiO2 is in the list of promising nanomaterials related to biological test. Thought the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) the TiO2 is capable of activating apoptotic mechanisms in neoplastic cells in reaction to the oxidative stress. Futhermore, it was demonstrated already that the production of ROS, depending of its concentration, acts selectively on the neoplastic cells, in a way that the normal tissues present mechanisms against the accumulated oxidative stress. Because of the superior band gap of 3,0 eV, the NP acts like a semiconductor and can generated ROS when exposed to UV, but it cannot interact with the visible radiation. This limitation can be controlled adding chromophores to the surface of the NPs. Recently, Our group was able to cover the surface with peroxide groups making the Ti(OH)4. The presence of this peroxides in a covalent bound with the NP surface moves the band gap to 2,3 eV. This characteristic gives the Ti(OH)4 NP the capacity of visible light absorption and then the ability to generate superior quantities of ROS when compare with the TiO2. This could have a positive impact in different oncology treatments of cancer cells originated from epithelial tissues with external access, as it is for bladder cancer. In front of this considerations, we propose to evaluate the antitumoral properties of the Ti(OH)4 NP in some cell lineages of bladder cancer and control cells, modifying the time of exposition, concentration and dose/reinforcement. In order to analyze the factors related to the cytotoxically effects and the therapeutic safety.