A Novel Photothermally Active Titanium-Copper Nanocomposite for Breast Cancer Therapy: Characterization and Cellular Mechanisms

Breast cancer therapy faces significant challenges including metastasis, recurrence, and limited efficacy of conventional treatments. In this study, a copper-doped titanium dioxide (Ti-Cu) nanocomposite was developed as a near-infrared (NIR)-activatable photothermal agent. The Ti-Cu nanocomposite was synthesized via a hydrothermal method and characterized using TEM, AFM, EDX, ATR-FTIR, and UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy. Characterization results confirmed successful copper doping with a red-shifted absorption peak at ۶۵۰ nm and excellent photothermal heating to ۶۸_x۰۰۱۷_۶C under ۱.۵ W/cm_x۰۰۱۷_۸ NIR irradiation. Cellular uptake in ۴T۱ murine breast cancer cells was time- and concentration-dependent, as demonstrated by side scatter shift in flow cytometry (mean intensity ۳.۵۳ at ۲۵۰ _x۰۰۰۳_bcg/mL vs. control ۲.۱۳). Ti-Cu plus NIR irradiation synergistically induced intracellular reactive oxygen species production, leading to ۸۶% total apoptotic cell death compared to ۳۵% without NIR. The nanocomposite significantly reduced the migratory capacity of ۴T۱ cells and triggered key immunogenic cell death markers, including calreticulin surface exposure (۱۶.۴% vs. ۰.۲۷% control) and high- mobility group box ۱ release (۱۱۷ pg/mL vs. ۱۴ pg/mL control). These findings establish Ti-Cu as a safe, biocompatible photothermal platform that induces ROS-mediated apoptosis, suppresses migration, and activates immunogenic cell death, supporting its potential for breast cancer immunotherapy.

کلیدواژه ها:

Cancer therapy ، Nanocomposite ، Photothermal therapy ، Immunogenic cell death ، Titanium dioxide ، Breast cancer