Redox active cerium oxide nanoparticles and associated methods

摘要

Nanoparticles disclosed in the invention comprise a dextran-coated crystalline structure of cerium oxide wherein tetravalent Ce4+ predominates over trivalent Ce3+ and wherein said nanoparticles have a diameter of approximately from 3 to 5 nm. The nanoparticles exhibit both superoxide dismutase activity and catalase activity in an environment having a substantially neutral or acidic pH. The nanoparticles may be used to make and may be contained in a medication. The subject nanoparticles are useful in a method of promoting a cytotoxic anti-invasive effect on squamous tumor cells and inhibit tumor invasiveness.

主权项

1. A method of promoting a cytotoxic anti-invasive effect on squamous tumor cells having an acidic internal cell environment, the method comprising contacting the cells with a nanoparticle composition comprising a cerium oxide core coated with dextran, wherein Ce4+ is in higher concentration than Ce3+ in the composition as measured by an absorption edge which lies beyond 350 nm, and wherein the nanoparticles have a diameter of approximately 3 to 5 nm, wherein the concentration of the nanoparticles in contact with the tumor cells is from 100 to 300 micromolar.