Abstract
Metal oxide nanoparticles are considered to be an important material due to their good mechanical stability, unique structure and catalytic properties. The hydrothermal method was followed along with rambutan (
Nephelium lappaceum
L.) fruit peel extract mixed with metal ions to prepare titanium dioxide (TiO
2
) nanorods. Though there are numerous similar works published in past decades, in comparison with those works, the novelty of this work is using rambutan fruit peel as a precipitation agent. The advantages of using such natural agents are that they are eco-friendly and economically feasible. The prepared TiO
2
nanorods were co-cultured with human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) and their cytotoxicity was evaluated. The morphology of the nanorods was analyzed through transmission electron microscopy. The average diameter of the TiO
2
nanorods was found to be 70–90 nm. The anatase phase of the tetragonal structure was confirmed through X-ray diffraction analysis. The studies of the vibrational Raman active modes and optical properties confirmed the presence of TiO
2
. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy binding energy of Ti2p
3/2
determined as 460 eV and that of O1s determined as 532 eV confirmed the presence of TiO
2
. Cytotoxicity was analyzed using MDA-MB-231 and cell death was observed at 73.65 µg/ml.