Targeting Pathogenic Microbes and Cervical Cancer with Curcumin-Loaded Titanium dioxide Nanoparticles

Nanoscale titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a vital material that is economical, remarkably stable and possesses potent photocatalytic and biocidal qualities. These properties have led to extensive research and application of TiO2 in the biomedical sectors. Nevertheless, a number of factors, such as TiO2's homogeneous size/morphology, efficient biocidal activity, and biological compatibility, limit its practical uses. In this regard, reasonable homogeneous TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) with a size of ∼27.4 nm coupled with curcumin (Cur) (TiO2Cur) are synthesised via a wet-chemical method. As-synthesised TiO2Cur NPs have a spherical shape and an anatase phase, which is effectively covered in a layer of curcumin. TiO2Cur exhibits strong antioxidant activity, good anticancer activity against cervical cancer HeLa cells, and good antibacterial activity against S. aureus, S. pneumoniae, B. megaterium, K. pneumoniae, S. dysenteriae, and E. coli. Specially, it is found that the zone of inhibition for B. megaterium is larger (16.1 mm) than that of its synthetic counterparts. It also demonstrates reasonable antifungal activity against C. albicans. When compared to their synthesised counterparts, it shows that TiO2Cur NPs have a maximal zone of inhibition of 13.3 mm. Trolox free radical scavenging activity varied between 39 and 81% at doses of 20 to 100 μg/mL of TiO2Cur, resulting in good antioxidant activity. It's noteworthy to take into account that the TiO2Cur NPs exhibit stronger anticancer activity against cervical cancer (HeLa) cells and less inhibitory concentration at 7.5 μg/mL. This study demonstrates the synthesised TiO2 NPs coupled with curcumin have a lot of potential applications in the biological fields, including the production of antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, and anti-cancer drugs in the future. Effect of curcumin on TiO2 nanoparticle towards the inhibition of pathogenic microbes and cervical cancer treatments. [Display omitted]