In this study, several formulations of nanoceria and dextran-nanoceria with curcumin, each demonstrated to have anti-cancer properties, were synthesized and applied as treatment for human childhood neuroblastoma. The anti-cancer activities of these formulations were explored in neuroblastoma models of both MYCN-amplified and non-amplified cell lines. Ceria nanoparticles, coated with dextran and loaded with curcumin, were found to induce substantial cell death in neuroblastoma cells (up to a 2-fold and a 1.6-fold decrease in cell viability for MYCN-upregulated and normal expressing cell lines, respectively; *p < 0.05) while producing no or only minor toxicity in healthy cells (no toxicity at 100 μM; **p < 0.01). This formulation evokes prolonged oxidative stress, stabilizing HIF-1α, and inducing caspase-dependent apoptosis (up to a 2.4-fold increase over control; *p < 0.05). Overall, nano-therapeutic treatments showed a more pronounced effect in MYCN-amplified cells, which are traditionally more resistant to drug therapies. These results represent a very promising alternative to small molecule drug therapies for robust cancers.
This review highlights the unique surface structures/defect characters mediating nanoceria efficacy in varied applications. Further, efforts to ‘nanoengineer’ ceria nanoformulations toward optimal performance in application are analyzed and detailed.
Cerium
oxide nanoparticles (CNPs) exhibit superoxide dismutase (SOD) and
catalase mimetic activities. Therefore, based on its catalytic activities,
CNPs can potentially be used to treat diseases associated with oxidative
stress. The potency of CNPs can be hindered by ion interaction due
to chemical modifications. The issue is that phosphate ions are relatively
ubiquitous in all biological relevance medium and body fluid. Our
ventures in this study were to understand the phosphate ion interaction
and fabricate CNPs that are biocompatible and simultaneously retain
their catalytic properties in the presence of phosphate ions. CNPs
were coated with polyethylene glycol and dextran in order to enhance
biocompatibility. A series of experiments determined that maximizing
the preserved catalytic responses were highly dependent on the Ce3+:Ce4+. Results have shown that the particles engineered
with higher concentrations of Ce4+ on the surface are more
robust and retain catalytic activity post buffer exposure.
The COVID19 pandemic has brought global attention to the threat of emerging viruses and
to antiviral therapies, in general. In particular, the high transmissibility and
infectivity of respiratory viruses have been brought to the general public’s
attention, along with the need for highly effective antiviral and disinfectant
materials/products. This study has developed two distinct silver-modified formulations
of redox-active nanoscale cerium oxide (AgCNP1 and AgCNP2). The formulations show
specific antiviral activities toward tested OC43 coronavirus and RV14 rhinovirus
pathogens, with materials characterization demonstrating a chemically stable character
for silver nanophases on ceria particles and significant differences in
Ce
3+
/Ce
4+
redox state ratio (25.8 and 53.7% Ce
3+
for
AgCNP1 & 2, respectively).
In situ
electrochemical studies further
highlight differences in formulation-specific viral inactivation and suggest specific
modes of action. Altogether, the results from this study support the utility of AgCNP
formulations as high stability, high efficacy materials for use against clinically
relevant virus species.
Nanoporous gold (NPG) has remarkable catalytic activity and biocompatibility and could potentially be used in biomedical devices. Herein, we have assessed the long term effects of biofouling on NPG interface. Nanoporoes (25 nm) in gold electrode are fabricated using a de-alloying treatment resulting in an 18 fold increase in surface area as compared to the planar gold. The effects of biofouling on the planar gold interface were evidenced by the rapid decrease in faradaic current to 55% in just eight minutes of incubation in 2 mg ml À1 of bovine serum albumin (BSA). On the other hand NPG showed barely any decline in the peak current when incubated in a similar biofouling solution. NPG upon incubation in a solution of higher concentration of BSA showed immediate peak current degradation which was subsequently recovered when the electrode was left idle in the biofouling solution. For instance, the peak current regenerated from (60% to 80%) when left idle for 60 minutes in 16 mg ml À1 of BSA solution. The regeneration mechanism indicated that even after long term incubation in the biofouling solution, the accumulated organic layer on its interface is not impervious and allows the diffusion of small analytes molecules. Thereby, NPG could be used in biomedical devices such as biosensor or drug reservoir.
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