title: Cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity of gold-supported cerium oxide nanoparticles.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2) have been shown to be a novel therapeutic in many biomedical applications. Gold (Au) nanoparticles have also attracted widespread interest due to their chemical stability and unique optical properties. Thus, decorating Au on CeO2 nanoparticles would have potential for exploitation in the biomedical field.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present work, CeO2 nanoparticles synthesized by a chemical combustion method were supported with 3.5% Au (Au/CeO2) by a deposition-precipitation method. The as-synthesized Au, CeO2, and Au/CeO2 nanoparticles were evaluated for antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity in RAW 264.7 normal cells and A549 lung cancer cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The as-synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and ultraviolet-visible measurements. The X-ray diffraction study confirmed the formation of cubic fluorite-structured CeO2 nanoparticles with a size of 10 nm. All synthesized nanoparticles were nontoxic towards RAW 264.7 cells at doses of 0-1,000 μM except for Au at >100 μM. For A549 cancer cells, Au/CeO2 had the highest inhibitory effect, followed by both Au and CeO2 which showed a similar effect at 500 and 1,000 μM. Initial binding of nanoparticles occurred through localized positively charged sites in A549 cells as shown by a shift in zeta potential from positive to negative after 24 hours of incubation. A dose-dependent elevation in reactive oxygen species indicated that the pro-oxidant activity of the nanoparticles was responsible for their cytotoxicity towards A549 cells. In addition, cellular uptake seen on transmission electron microscopic images indicated predominant localization of nanoparticles in the cytoplasmic matrix and mitochondrial damage due to oxidative stress. With regard to antibacterial activity, both types of nanoparticles had the strongest inhibitory effect on Bacillus subtilis in monoculture systems, followed by Salmonella enteritidis, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus, while, in coculture tests with Lactobacillus plantarum, S. aureus was inhibited to a greater extent than the other bacteria.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gold-supported CeO2 nanoparticles may be a potential nanomaterial for in vivo application owing to their biocompatible and antibacterial properties.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Nano Sciences and Technology, Madanjeet School of Green Energy Technologies, Pondicherry University, Kalapet, India.
authors.forename: K Suresh
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Babu
authors.affiliation: Centre for Nano Sciences and Technology, Madanjeet School of Green Energy Technologies, Pondicherry University, Kalapet, India.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anandkumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, Fu Jen University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: T Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, Fu Jen University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, Fu Jen University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: B Stephen
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Inbaraj
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, Fu Jen University, Taipei, Taiwan ; Graduate Institute of Medicine, Fu Jen University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002563:Cerium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D051379:Mice; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D002563:Cerium; C030583:ceric oxide; D006046:Gold
keywords: antibacterial activity; cellular uptake; cerium oxide nanoparticles; cytotoxicity; gold supported cerium oxide; reactive oxygen species