Biological activity of cerium dioxide nanoparticles.

Cerium dioxide nanoparticles (CeO NPs) with a high value of ζ-potential (≥30 mV) have been synthesized in reverse microemulsions and they are able to form the high-stable aqueous suspension without any additional stabilizers. It has been shown that the interaction of such CeO NPs with transport proteins, such as BSA, affects their molecular conformation and biochemical activity. The observed changes in the UV-absorbance spectrum and intrinsic fluorescence quenching of BSA molecule are indicative of the occurrence of structural changes caused by binding with the surface of CeO NPs.