Antibacterial activity of polymer coated cerium oxide nanoparticles

PLoS One. 2012;7(10):e47827. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0047827. Epub 2012 Oct 26.

Abstract

Cerium oxide nanoparticles have found numerous applications in the biomedical industry due to their strong antioxidant properties. In the current study, we report the influence of nine different physical and chemical parameters: pH, aeration and, concentrations of MgSO(4), CaCl(2), KCl, natural organic matter, fructose, nanoparticles and Escherichia coli, on the antibacterial activity of dextran coated cerium oxide nanoparticles. A least-squares quadratic regression model was developed to understand the collective influence of the tested parameters on the anti-bacterial activity and subsequently a computer-based, interactive visualization tool was developed. The visualization allows us to elucidate the effect of each of the parameters in combination with other parameters, on the antibacterial activity of nanoparticles. The results indicate that the toxicity of CeO(2) NPs depend on the physical and chemical environment; and in a majority of the possible combinations of the nine parameters, non-lethal to the bacteria. In fact, the cerium oxide nanoparticles can decrease the anti-bacterial activity exerted by magnesium and potassium salts.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / toxicity*
  • Calcium Chloride / metabolism
  • Cerium / toxicity*
  • Escherichia coli / drug effects*
  • Fructose / metabolism
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Least-Squares Analysis
  • Magnesium Sulfate / metabolism
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / ultrastructure
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Models, Biological*
  • Potassium Chloride / metabolism
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Fructose
  • Cerium
  • ceric oxide
  • Potassium Chloride
  • Magnesium Sulfate
  • Calcium Chloride

Grants and funding

National Science Foundation CBET grants # 0708172 (NIRT) and 0930170 supported SS and CBET grant # 0966741 supported VS. FR and KM were supported by research funds of Dowling College. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.