Invited ReviewRecent developments on titania nanoparticle as photocatalytic cancer cells treatment

•Titania can kill cancer cell through photocatalytic chemistry.•Titania has stable reactive oxygen species and great selectivity towards cancer cell.•Titania photocatalyst can kill cancer cells without damaging healthy tissues.•Titania hybrid improves stability and selectivity whilst maintains photodynamic reactivity.

This review provides a background, fundamental and advanced application of titania nanoparticles (TiO2) on the disinfection and killing of cancer cell through photocatalytic chemistry. It starts with the characteristic properties focused on the surface, light sensitivity, crystallinity and toxicology of TiO2 as a photocatalyst. Consequently, outline and design of photocatalytic reactor has been figured out based on the target organisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi and cancer cells. Despite a large number of studies undertaken, limited selectivity and efficacy of TiO2 photocatalyst are still widely accepted problems. An ideal TiO2 photocatalyst should have the combined properties of highly stable reactive oxygen species yield and a greater degree of selectivity towards cancerous cell without damaging the healthy tissues. Hybridization of TiO2 with metal, metal oxide and carbon nano materials significantly improved both of stability and selectivity of TiO2, whilst maintaining its high Photodynamic reactivity.