Evaluation of Anticancer Activity of Zi-ZnO, Ti-TiO and Ti–Zn Mixed Oxide Nanoparticles Against MDA-MB-231 Cells Using MTT Assay

The anticancer potential of ZnO(Zn), TiO2(Ti) and Ti-Zn mixed oxide nanoparticles—TiZn-1 (Ti-90%, Zn-10%), TiZn-2 (Ti-80%, Zn-20%), and TiZn-3 (Ti-70%, Zn-30%)—was investigated against human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells using the MTT cell viability assay. Nanoparticles were dispersed in molecular-grade water with mild sonication to aid solubility; however, only partial dissolution was achieved, resulting in turbid suspensions used for treatment. Cells were exposed to nanoparticle concentrations ranging from 0.1 mM(μg/mL) to 2 mM(μg/mL) for 24 hours. The Positive Control – Cisplatin, treated at 10-100 μΜ, produced a clear dose-dependent cytotoxic response with an IC50 value of 47.95 μΜ, confirming assay sensitivity and proper experimental performance. In contrast, all nanoparticle formulations showed minimal or no cytotoxicity across the tested concentration range. Cell viability remained close to untreated controls, and no IC50 value could be determined for Zn, Ti or the Ti-Zn mixed oxide series. These observations indicate that the nanoparticles, in their current physicochemical form, do not exhibit significant anticancer effects under the given experimental conditions. The findings suggest that improved solubility, surface functionalization, or alternate dispersing media may be required to enhance cellular uptake and unlock the potential anticancer properties of these Ti-Zn oxide-based nanomaterials.