Synthesis, physicochemical characterization, antifungal activity and toxicological features of cerium oxide nanoparticles

Abstract

Fungal infection is a public health problem. Antifungal agents resistance is often seen in common Candida albicans in the hospital environment. Nanoparticles have been reported in the literature as a promising development of health products. The toxicity, antioxidant and antifungal activity of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeNP) were evaluated. After synthesis and characterization of the physicochemical properties, the new CeNP was evaluated by biological tests of antifungal activity. The antioxidant activity of CeNP was evaluated by scavenging free radicals of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl hydrate (DPPH). The DPPH scavenging activity was monitored by % color inhibition the absorbance. In vivo acute toxicity studies of CeNP were carried out by oral administration in mice (300 and 2000 mg/kg, n = 3/ group), and by brine shrimp (Artemia salina) model (0.001-25 mg/ mL, n = 10/ group). CeNP was able to interfere in the fungal growth, depending on the strain and dosage used. Acute lethal dose 50% is greater than 2000 mg/kg and CeNP did not induce toxicity for A. salina. Antioxidant activity was not significant. The current antifungal and toxicity features results support the use of CeNP as antifungal agent against Candida albicans strains, which may find applications in biotechnology and biomedical area in the development of a new nano-biomaterial for clinical applications.