Biomedical application of single anatase phase TiO2 nanoparticles with addition of Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.) fruit peel extract.

Metal oxide nanoparticles are considered to be an important material due to their good mechanical stability, unique structure and catalytic properties. The hydrothermal method was followed along with rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.) fruit peel extract mixed with metal ions to prepare titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanorods. Though there are numerous similar works published in past decades, in comparison with those works, the novelty of this work is using rambutan fruit peel as a precipitation agent. The advantages of using such natural agents are that they are eco-friendly and economically feasible. The prepared TiO₂ nanorods were co-cultured with human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) and their cytotoxicity was evaluated. The morphology of the nanorods was analyzed through transmission electron microscopy. The average diameter of the TiO₂ nanorods was found to be 70–90 nm. The anatase phase of the tetragonal structure was confirmed through X-ray diffraction analysis. The studies of the vibrational Raman active modes and optical properties confirmed the presence of TiO₂. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy binding energy of Ti2p_3/2 determined as 460 eV and that of O1s determined as 532 eV confirmed the presence of TiO₂. Cytotoxicity was analyzed using MDA-MB-231 and cell death was observed at 73.65 µg/ml. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]