In vitro antimicrobial and anticancer properties of TiO blow-spun nanofibers containing silver nanoparticles.

Nanosilver immobilized on TiO nanometric fibers (Ag/TiO) was produced by solution blow spinning and characterized using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, N adsorption/desorption, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, water contact angle, and inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy analyses. The in vitro antimicrobial and anticancer activities of the produced nanofibers was also investigated. Ag/TiO nanofibers revealed a crystalline structure compatible with the rutile crystalline phase, as well as a mesoporous and superhydrophilic nature. XPS profiles showed Ti and Ag, indicating a strong interaction between the Ag nanoparticles and TiO. The Ag/TiO nanofibers presented antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Escherichia coli. The release of silver ions from 5 mg∙mL and 50 mg∙mL of Ag/TiO nanofibers was approximately 0.08 μg∙mL and 0.18 μg∙mL, respectively. The nanofiber cytotoxicity in both macrophages (ATCC RAW 264.7) and cancer cells (murine AT-84 oral squamous carcinoma cells) was dose-dependent. A concentration of 5 mg∙mL induced partial suppression growth and migration of cancer cells, while a concentration of 50 mg∙mL resulted in complete inhibition of proliferation and migration of murine AT-84 cells. The overall results indicate that Ag/TiO nanofibers can selectively inhibit the cellular mechanism of AT-84 by apoptosis with DNA damage and cell death. The antimicrobial and anticancer performance of Ag/TiO nanofibers is probably the result of its nanometric dimension, high surface reactivity, and the interaction between TiO and Ag. Electron transfer at the metal-semiconductor interface and reactive oxygen species production, in addition to the biological activity of released silver ions, confirm the potential for use as an agent in antimicrobial and anticancer therapy.