Innovative Drug Delivery with TiO2 Nanotubes: Targeted Approaches and Applications

Nanotechnology is pivotal in developing diverse nanomaterials with applications across various fields, including medicine, electronics, and environmental science. After the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) discovery bythe scientist“Iijima” in 1991, there has been a surge of interest in low-dimensional nanomaterials, particularly metal oxide nanotubes (MO-NT), owing to their unique propertiesand diverse applications. Among all, titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotubes (TNT) have garnered noteworthyconsideration in recent years due to their remarkable features,including nanosized, large porosity and surface area (SA), crystalline structure, and high stability. It has versatile utility in the electrochemical, environmental, and biomedical fields. Thus, this article briefly deliberateson the progress of nanotube research following the discovery of TNTs, highlighting the growing importance of MO-NTs. The review also explores synthesis methods, including template-assisted, sol-gel, hydrothermal, and electrochemical anodization (EAD), elucidating their benefits and applications. Furthermore, the present work delves into the mechanisms for targeted therapeutic action either by surface functionalization using specific ligands or by external triggers using pH, light, magnetic field, temperature, etc. These biomedical applications are supported by evidence from cell line studies and animal models. Finally, the article addresses existing challenges and regulatory considerations and offers insights into future perspectives for the continued advancement and application of TNT in targeted drug delivery (TDD) and beyond.