Scientists demonstrate the effect of titanium nitride nanoparticles on anticancer and antibacterial therapy

Researchers at Palacký University’s CATRIN, together with colleagues from its Faculty of Science and Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, in collaboration with researchers from VSB-TUO, Charles University and the University of Turin, have demonstrated the high potential of titanium nitride (TiN) nanocrystals for photothermal anticancer therapy and, for the first time, for antibacterial therapy. Their findings were recently published in Applied Surface Science Advances, an Elsevier journal.

Developing new, effective cancer treatments and innovative methods to combat antibacterial resistance are among the most pressing scientific challenges of our time. Plasmonic titanium nitride nanoparticles have emerged as a highly efficient, electrocatalytic and environmentally friendly material with good biocompatibility. Their unique physicochemical properties and cost-effectiveness make them highly promising for biomedical applications. However, the influence of TiN morphology on the efficacy of photothermal therapy (PTT) has remained unexplored until now.

“In this study, we demonstrated that two different TiN morphologies—nanobars and nanospheres—can effectively destroy cancer cells and two key bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli) using in vitro PTT therapy. We achieved this under milder conditions (lower power and NIR LED light) compared to other studies. Additionally, we demonstrated the feasibility of in vivo imaging of TiN during treatment,” said Kateřina Poláková, the lead author of the study  and leader of the BioMed research group at CATRIN.