Enzyme-mimetic activity of Ce-intercalated titanate nanosheets

Colloidal solutions of Ce-doped titanate nanosheets (Ce-TNS) with tiny dimensions (<10 nm) were fabricated through a hydrolysis reaction of titanium tetraisopropoxide and Ce(NO3)3, and their annihilation activity for reactive oxygen species (ROS) was investigated. The obtained Ce-TNS had an akin crystal structure to layered tetratitanate (Ti4O9(2-)) and Ce ions occupied interlayer space between the host layers with a negative charge. The Ce-TNS possessed a superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetic activity for disproportionation of superoxide anion radicals (O2(-)) as target ROS. It was explained that the annihilation of O2(-) caused a valence fluctuation of Ce ions existing in the interlayer. Moreover, the activity of Ce-TNS exceeded that of CeO2 nanoparticles recently attracting much attention as an inorganic SOD mimic. The superior performance was explained mainly by a high dispersion stability of the Ce-TNS bringing about a huge reaction area. Moreover, the Ce-TNS protected DNA molecules from ultraviolet light induced oxidative damage, demonstrating effectiveness as one of the new inorganic protecting agents for biomolecules and tissues.