Phototoxic Effect of UVA-Responsive Fe3O4@ZnO Nanoparticles on Squamous Skin Cell

Abstract

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a resource-rich metal oxide with a certain degree of phototoxicity toward cancer cells using ultraviolet light radiation. Therefore, it is a promising photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy against cancer. The current study synthesized core-shell structure nanoparticles using Fe3O4 as the core and ZnO as the shell. The core–shell nanoparticles were spherical-like and superparamagnetic, with a zeta potential of −22.7±7.6 mV. ZnO-coated ferroferric oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4@ZnO NPs) under ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation could induce a lot more reactive oxygen species in the squamous skin cells causing the evident inhibitory effect. In contrast, they indicated no toxicity to skin squamous cells without UVA radiation. Therefore, it can be inferred that their great potential as the targeting photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy on skin squamous cell carcinoma is due to their good biocompatibility without UVA radiation and excellent toxicity under UVA radiation on skin squamous cells.