title: Advancements in using TiO2 bionanoconjugates for precision degradation of intracellular biological structures.
abstract: Due to their low cost, photocatalytic properties, and unique surface chemistry, titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles are among the most widely used nanoparticles in industry today. Over the last decade, TiO2 nanoparticles have also been chemically and biologically enhanced to create TiO2 bionanoconjugates that can be used for biological applications such as imaging and manipulating desired biological structures. This review particularly focuses on the manner in which these specific chemical and biological modifications in TiO2 bionanoconjugates alter pre and post photoexcitation events to enable precision degradation of intracellular biological structures. Secondary emphasis is given to imaging aspects when necessary to understanding the effects that targeting these bionanoconjugates has on degradation of neighboring biological structures. The advantages of TiO2 bionanoconjugates to standard techniques, as well as future research directions, are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, 800 W Main Street, Upham Hall 357, Whitewater, Wisconsin 53190, USA. browne@uww.edu
authors.forename: Eric Michael Bratsolias
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Latoya L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Harley
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pyles
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Solis
authors.forename: Traci A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Wileman
authors.forename: Gail B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Willadsen
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D042541:Intracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism*; D058726:Nanoconjugates / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D058726:Nanoconjugates; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium