Tuning the biocompatibility of TiO2 nanoparticles by modulating oxygen vacancies

Abstract

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles have gained prominence in nanomedicine due to their non-toxicity and compatibility. TiO₂ exhibits potent antibacterial properties, making it an effective antibacterial agent. Defects in the nanoparticle plays a vital role in determining their antimicrobial and haemolytic properties. Structural defects, such as oxygen vacancies in TiO₂, play a critical role in modulating their surface reactivity. This influences the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. ROS generation plays a significant role in the biomedical applications of TiO₂. In this study, TiO₂ nanoparticles are synthesized via a wet chemical method, followed by annealing at different temperatures. The characterization of these nanoparticles is performed through X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman spectroscopy. The defects were analysed at each annealing temperature. ROS generation assays showed that ROS generation depends on defects in TiO₂ and directly impacts the biological properties.