Biogenic Fabrication of Palmitic Acid Coated Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles and their Anticancer Potential Against Human Skin Cancer Cells

Abstract In the modern era, pollutants like NO 2 , SO 2 , O 3 , and particulate matter threaten skin health by generating ROS and causing DNA damage, raising cancer risk. Due to the toxicity of conventional chemotherapy, plant‐based nanotherapeutics offer a safer, eco‐friendly, and more targeted treatment alternative.The present work deals with synthesize of palmitic acid coated titatinum dioxide nanoparticles (PA‐TiO 2 NPs) using the aqueous extract of Ceratopteris thalictroides (L.) Brongn, with the aim of evaluating their anticancer activity against human epidermoid carcinoma (A431) cell line. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the anatase crystalline phase with a crystallite size of 6.23 nm. The Raman spectra revealed the presence of four active Raman modes, with peaks at 144, 399, 519, and 639 cm −1 confirming the anatase phase of PA‐TiO 2 NPs. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis of PA‐TiO 2 suggests a surface area of 28.850 m 2 /g. XPS analysis showed Ti 3 ⁺/Ti⁴⁺ states and oxygen vacancies. Cytotoxicity assays confirmed a dose‐dependent inhibition of A431 cells, with an IC 50 value of 45.0 µg/mL. Flow cytometry revealed that PA‐TiO 2 nanoparticles induced cell cycle arrest at the S and G 2 /M phases and increased apoptotic cell populations in A431 cells. These findings highlight PA‐TiO 2 NPs as promising nanotherapeutic candidates for skin cancer treatment.