Sensitized TiO₂ nanocomposites through HMME linkage for photodynamic effects

Although TiO₂ can be used to effectively generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) for photodynamic application, its absorption in the ultraviolet range makes the excitation harmful to tissue. Based on the concept of a sensitized solar cell, TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) are sensitized by linking with the photosensitizer, HMME, to form HMME-TiO₂ nanocomposites (NCs) for demonstrating the photodynamic effects under the illumination of white light. The HMME-TiO₂ NCs of different composition ratios are prepared for maximizing the generation of ROS and optimizing the inactivation effect of KB cells. The material characteristics and the ROS generation capability of the HMME-TiO₂ NCs with the optimized combination ratio show their merits in a photodynamic process under white light irradiation. The application of such NCs to KB cell experiments results in a higher inactivation efficiency when compared to pure HMME of the same concentration.