Cerium and yttrium oxide nanoparticles are neuroprotective.
The responses of cells exposed to nanoparticles have been studied with regard to toxicity, but very little attention has been paid to the possibility that some types of particles can protect cells from various forms of lethal stress. It is shown here that nanoparticles composed of cerium oxide or yttrium oxide protect nerve cells from oxidative stress and that the neuroprotection is independent of particle size. The ceria and yttria nanoparticles act as direct antioxidants to limit the amount of reactive oxygen species required to kill the cells. It follows that this group of nanoparticles could be used to modulate oxidative stress in biological systems.
Schubert
David
D
The Salk Institute, 10010 N. Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA 92037, USA. schubert@salk.edu
Dargusch
Richard
R
Raitano
Joan
J
Chan
Siu-Wai
SW
D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002563:Cerium / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D050997:Nanomedicine; D049329:Nanostructures; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D015019:Yttrium / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity
D000975:Antioxidants; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D002563:Cerium; D015019:Yttrium; C030583:ceric oxide; D000537:Aluminum Oxide; C091417:yttria