Titanium-based Nanocomposites as Sustainable Photothermal Agents for Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) in Potential Breast Cancer Treatment

Research interest in the application of nanoparticles in the biomedical field, particularly in cancer therapies, has been steadily growing. Metal oxide nanoparticles have drawn much attention due to their ability to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) that, in the presence of light illumination, result in cell death, and thus can be utilised in photodynamic therapy (PDT). Of the known metal oxide nanoparticles, TiO2 NPs have attracted great interest due to their unique photocatalytic properties that can be utilised to kill cancer cells upon illumination. In this chapter, we utilise a standard light source, selecting the IR wavelength through a filter to activate the proposed TiO2-based nanocomposite with N-GQDs. This demonstrates its potential as a photothermal agent in PDT. Traditionally, photothermal agents face limitations in penetrating deeper tissue layers due to their reliance on UV light activation. However, our study offers a proof of concept that modifying TiO2-based nanocomposites with N-GQDs reduces the bandgap, enabling activation by IR light irradiation. This innovation significantly enhances the depth of penetration of the skin and the sustainability of treatment approaches. This chapter aims to highlight this novel strategy, particularly its potential application in medical fields, such as targeted and less invasive cancer therapies. While factors such as cancer type and stage remain important, our study specifically focuses on breast cancer as a case study to demonstrate the efficacy of TiO2-based nanocomposites as photothermal agents, aligning with the broader goal of promoting technologies to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially in developing countries.