Amine-Functionalized and Gold-Decorated Amine-Functionalized TiO2 Nanoparticles Modulate Breast Cancer Cell Viability

Muñoz, Juan P.; Muñoz-Jaime, Kiamara; Soto-Jiménez, Diego; Venkatesh, Nachimuthu; Novoa, Néstor; Shanmugaraj, Krishnamoorthy

doi:10.3390/ijms27125475

Open AccessArticle

Amine-Functionalized and Gold-Decorated Amine-Functionalized TiO₂ Nanoparticles Modulate Breast Cancer Cell Viability

by

Juan P. Muñoz

^1,*

,

Kiamara Muñoz-Jaime

²,

Diego Soto-Jiménez

¹,

Nachimuthu Venkatesh

³

,

Néstor Novoa

⁴

and

Krishnamoorthy Shanmugaraj

^2,*

¹

Laboratorio de Bioquímica, Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica 1000007, Chile

²

Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Tarapacá, Avda. General Velásquez 1775, Arica 1000000, Chile

³

Centre of Excellence for Energy Research, International Research Centre, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai 600119, Tamil Nadu, India

⁴

Laboratorio de Química Inorgánica y Organometálica, Departamento de Química Analítica e Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad de Concepción, Edmundo Larenas 129, Casilla 160-C, Concepción 4070371, Chile

^*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(12), 5475; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27125475

Submission received: 27 April 2026 / Revised: 4 June 2026 / Accepted: 12 June 2026 / Published: 17 June 2026

(This article belongs to the Topic Nanotechnology Therapies for Cancers)

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Abstract

Surface engineering is a key strategy for modulating the biological behavior of TiO₂-based nanomaterials, with potential relevance for future localized or adjuvant approaches targeting residual cancer cells. This study evaluated whether amine functionalization and subsequent gold decoration modify the effects of TiO₂ nanoparticles (TiO₂NPs) on MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. The synthesized materials preserved the anatase TiO₂ framework, while surface modification altered their physicochemical and optical properties. After 24 h of exposure, pristine TiO₂NPs produced minimal changes in cell viability, whereas NH₂-functionalized TiO₂NPs (TiO₂NPs-NH₂) and gold-decorated NH₂-functionalized TiO₂NPs (Au@TiO₂NPs-NH₂) reduced viability in a concentration-dependent and cell line-dependent manner. These effects were more evident in the MTT assay than in Trypan Blue exclusion counting, suggesting changes in metabolic activity before extensive membrane integrity loss. Overall, the findings indicate that surface modification, rather than the TiO₂ core alone, is a major determinant of the cellular response to these nanomaterials. These results provide an initial in vitro basis for further mechanistic studies evaluating surface-engineered TiO₂NPs as candidate platforms for future adjuvant breast cancer strategies.

Keywords: TiO₂ nanoparticles; TiO₂NPs-NH₂; Au@TiO₂NPs-NH₂; surface modification; breast cancer cells

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MDPI and ACS Style

Muñoz, J.P.; Muñoz-Jaime, K.; Soto-Jiménez, D.; Venkatesh, N.; Novoa, N.; Shanmugaraj, K. Amine-Functionalized and Gold-Decorated Amine-Functionalized TiO₂ Nanoparticles Modulate Breast Cancer Cell Viability. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27, 5475. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27125475

AMA Style

Muñoz JP, Muñoz-Jaime K, Soto-Jiménez D, Venkatesh N, Novoa N, Shanmugaraj K. Amine-Functionalized and Gold-Decorated Amine-Functionalized TiO₂ Nanoparticles Modulate Breast Cancer Cell Viability. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2026; 27(12):5475. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27125475

Chicago/Turabian Style

Muñoz, Juan P., Kiamara Muñoz-Jaime, Diego Soto-Jiménez, Nachimuthu Venkatesh, Néstor Novoa, and Krishnamoorthy Shanmugaraj. 2026. "Amine-Functionalized and Gold-Decorated Amine-Functionalized TiO₂ Nanoparticles Modulate Breast Cancer Cell Viability" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 27, no. 12: 5475. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27125475

APA Style

Muñoz, J. P., Muñoz-Jaime, K., Soto-Jiménez, D., Venkatesh, N., Novoa, N., & Shanmugaraj, K. (2026). Amine-Functionalized and Gold-Decorated Amine-Functionalized TiO₂ Nanoparticles Modulate Breast Cancer Cell Viability. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 27(12), 5475. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27125475

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Amine-Functionalized and Gold-Decorated Amine-Functionalized TiO₂ Nanoparticles Modulate Breast Cancer Cell Viability

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