Scientific Reports (Nov 2022)

Antiviral efficacy of cerium oxide nanoparticles

  • Alexandra Nefedova,
  • Kai Rausalu,
  • Eva Zusinaite,
  • Alexander Vanetsev,
  • Merilin Rosenberg,
  • Kairi Koppel,
  • Stevin Lilla,
  • Meeri Visnapuu,
  • Krisjanis Smits,
  • Vambola Kisand,
  • Tanel Tätte,
  • Angela Ivask

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-23465-6
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 1
pp. 1 – 16

Abstract

Read online

Abstract 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 (CeO2). Two nano-CeO2 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-CeO2 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-CeO2(−). Parallel testing of antiviral activity of Ce3+ ions and SiO2 nanoparticles allows to conclude that nano-CeO2 activity was neither due to released Ce-ions nor nonspecific effects of nanoparticulates. Moreover, we evidenced higher antiviral efficacy of nano-CeO2 compared with Ag nanoparticles. This result along with low antibacterial activity and non-existent cytotoxicity of nano-CeO2 allow us to propose CeO2 nanoparticles for specific antiviral applications.