Antiviral efficacy of cerium oxide nanoparticles

• Published in: Scientific reports 2022-11, Vol.12 (1), p.18746-16, Article 18746
• Main Authors: Nefedova, Alexandra, Rausalu, Kai, Zusinaite, Eva, Vanetsev, Alexander, Rosenberg, Merilin, Koppel, Kairi, Lilla, Stevin, Visnapuu, Meeri, Smits, Krisjanis, Kisand, Vambola, Tätte, Tanel, Ivask, Angela
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 631/326; 639/925; Antibacterial activity; Antiviral activity; Antiviral Agents - pharmacology; Cerium; Cerium - pharmacology; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Cytotoxicity; Gastroenteritis; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Influenza; Ions; Metal Nanoparticles; multidisciplinary; Nanoparticles; Nanoparticles - toxicity; Nanotechnology; Phages; SARS-CoV-2; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Silicon Dioxide; Silver - pharmacology; Statistical analysis; Surface charge; Transmissible gastroenteritis; Viruses
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23465-6

Nanomaterials are prospective candidates for the elimination of viruses due to their multimodal mechanisms of action. Here, we tested the antiviral potential of a largely unexplored nanoparticle of cerium dioxide (CeO 2 ). Two nano-CeO 2 with opposing surface charge, (+) and (−), were assessed for their capability to decrease the plaque forming units (PFU) of four enveloped and two non-enveloped viruses during 1-h exposure. Statistically significant antiviral activity towards enveloped coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus was registered already at 20 mg Ce/l. For other two enveloped viruses, transmissible gastroenteritis virus and bacteriophage φ6, antiviral activity was evidenced at 200 mg Ce/l. As expected, the sensitivity of non-enveloped viruses towards nano-CeO 2 was significantly lower. EMCV picornavirus showed no decrease in PFU until the highest tested concentration, 2000 mg Ce/l and MS2 bacteriophage showed slight non-monotonic response to high concentrations of nano-CeO 2 (−). Parallel testing of antiviral activity of Ce 3+ ions and SiO 2 nanoparticles allows to conclude that nano-CeO 2 activity was neither due to released Ce-ions nor nonspecific effects of nanoparticulates. Moreover, we evidenced higher antiviral efficacy of nano-CeO 2 compared with Ag nanoparticles. This result along with low antibacterial activity and non-existent cytotoxicity of nano-CeO 2 allow us to propose CeO 2 nanoparticles for specific antiviral applications.