Mortality response of folate receptor-activated, PEG–functionalized TiO2 nanoparticles for doxorubicin loading with and without ultraviolet irradiation

TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by hydrothermal assisted sol–gel technique. In the next step, as-synthesized NPs were modified by poly ethylene glycol (PEG). Then, folic acid (FA) was conjugated to TiO2–PEG. Finally, Doxorubicin (Dox) as an anticancer drug was loaded on as-prepared TiO2–PEG–FA nanocarrier. The optimization of TiO2 and FA concentration and the influence of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation on photocatalytic activity of nanocarrier and Dox loaded carrier were assessed by utilizing the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT)-assay method. Results indicated that the effect of NPs on cancer cells killing is dose-dependent, optimized at 1.25 g/L. The performance of FA on the selective targeting was confirmed and maximized at FA/TiO2=0.5. As-optimized TiO2–PEG–FA–Dox conjugate, in comparison to pure Dox, was more effective as far as cancer cell viability reduced to about 5%, especially under UV irradiation.