https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/s10189-025-00507-1
Regular Article - Living Systems
Effect of photothermal therapy using PANI-Fe₂O₃-Cys nanocomposites on breast cancer cells with antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity study
1
Department of Environmental Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Karbala, Karbala, Iraq
2
Department of Medical Physics, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Kerbala, Karbala, Iraq
a
mohammed.hamza@uokerbala.edu.iq
Received:
28
April
2025
Accepted:
2
July
2025
Published online:
23
July
2025
This study discusses the effect of photothermal therapy using PANI-conductive polymer composites with iron oxide and the amino acid cysteine (Cys) on breast cancer cells. The study focused on the biological and toxicological effects associated with the treatment process and its impact on these cancer cells. The materials were prepared using a very simple chemical oxidation method to produce polymer nanoparticles to which iron and cysteine molecules are attached. These composites were used as therapeutic agents in photothermal therapy, which relies primarily on the process of converting light into heat energy to kill cancer cells. The results showed that photothermal therapy using PANI-Fe2O3-Cys composites with near-infrared (NIR) light was significantly more effective in inhibiting breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) than using the composites without a laser. Significant changes in the morphology of the cancer cells were observed after treatment, demonstrating the treatment’s effectiveness in destroying cancer cells. On the other hand, there was a slight and negligible effect on healthy cells, demonstrating the successful formulation and targeting of the treatment for cancerous tumors. Antibacterial evaluations also demonstrated effective activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella bacteria. This study supports the use of composite nanomaterials in photothermal therapy as a targeted treatment for breast cancer, as well as enhancing the effectiveness of this treatment with lasers. It also explains how these materials could be used in future medical applications, particularly in cancer treatment, using methods that are considered less invasive and safer.
Copyright comment Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to EDP Sciences, SIF and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2025
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
