Fig. 1

Titanium peroxide nanoparticles (TiOxNPs) enhanced the cytotoxic effect of radiation against pancreatic cancer stem cells (CSCs). A TiOxNPs size distribution, measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS). B Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image of TiOxNPs. Scale bar = 100 nm. C Flow cytometric analysis of intracellular uptake of TiOxNPs in adherent and sphere MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 cells. SSC MFI values indicate uptake. n=3. D TEM image of intracellular localization of TiOxNPs in adherent and sphere MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 cells (white arrowheads). Scale bar = 2 μm. E Sphere formation assay of MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 cells treated with TiOxNPs and/or irradiation. n=3. F Cell proliferation assay in MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 cells treated with TiOxNPs and/or irradiation. n=3. G WST-1 cell viability assay in MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 cells treated with TiOxNPs and/or irradiation. n=3. H Western blot for expression levels of Nanog, Oct4, Sox2, CD44, and ALDH1 in MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 cells treated with TiOxNPs (200 μg/mL) and/or irradiation (5 Gy). Data are shown as the mean ± standard deviation. ns, not significant. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, and ****p < 0.0001