Wireless Stimulation of Barium Titanate@PEDOT Nanoparticles Toward Bioelectrical Modulation in Cancer

• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c12387
• Publication Date: 2025-01-30T00:41:42Z
• Authors: Catarina Franco J...; Marta S. Carvalho; Akhil Jain; Paula Rodriguez-L...; Filipa Pires; Jorge Morgado; Senentxu Lanceros...; Frederico Castelo...; Teresa Esteves; Paola Sanjuan-Alb...
• Keywords: Barium titanate; Modulation (music)

Cancer cells possess distinct bioelectrical properties, yet therapies leveraging these characteristics remain underexplored. Herein, we introduce an innovative nanobioelectronic system combining a piezoelectric barium titanate nanoparticle core with conducting poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) shell (BTO@PEDOT NPs), designed to modulate cancer cell bioelectricity through noninvasive, wireless stimulation. Our hypothesis is that acting as nanoantennas, BTO@PEDOT NPs convert mechanical inputs provided by ultrasound (US) into electrical signals, capable of interfering the bioelectronic circuitry two human breast lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231. Upon US stimulation, viability MDA-MB-231 treated 200 μg mL-1 reduced significantly 31% 24%, respectively, while healthy mammary fibroblasts (HMF) were unaffected treatment. Subsequent assays shed light on how this approach could interact cell's mechanisms, namely, increasing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) calcium concentrations. Furthermore, was able polarize membranes, halting their cycle potentially harnessing tumorigenic characteristics. These findings underscore crucial role in progression highlight potential systems emerging promising strategy for intervention.