Design of Magnetic Fe₃O₄/CeO₂ "Core/Shell"-Like Nanocomposites with Pronounced Antiamyloidogenic and Antioxidant...

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Core/shell nanocomposites combining magnetic Fe3O4 and redox-active CeO2 nanoparticles (NPs) are promising for biomedical applications.
• These materials leverage the hyperthermic potential of Fe3O4 NPs in an alternating magnetic field (AMF) and the antioxidant properties of CeO2 NPs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize Fe3O4/CeO2 core/shell nanocomposites (NCPs).
• To evaluate the stability, magnetic heating efficiency, and biomedical activities (antioxidant, antiamyloidogenic) of these NCPs.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of Fe3O4/CeO2 NCPs via precipitation of a CeO2 shell onto pre-formed Fe3O4 NPs.
• Characterization using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM).
• Assessment of stability in aqueous suspension (ζ-potential), magnetic heating in AMF, antioxidant activity (superoxide dismutase-like), and antiamyloidogenic activity (insulin amyloid formation inhibition).

Main Results:

• Formation of Fe3O4/CeO2 core/shell NCPs with ultrafine CeO2 NPs (3-3.5 nm) surrounding Fe3O4 cores.
• Enhanced stability in aqueous suspension (>+30 mV ζ-potential) for NCPs with 5 and 7 nm CeO2 shells.
• NCPs retained efficient AMF heating capabilities, with tunable maximum temperatures (42-50 °C) controlled by shell thickness.
• Significant improvements in antioxidant and antiamyloidogenic activities; 7 nm shell NCPs showed ~10x lower IC50 for insulin amyloid inhibition and >2x higher SOD-like activity compared to pure CeO2.

Conclusions:

• Fe3O4/CeO2 core/shell NCPs demonstrate enhanced stability and tunable hyperthermia.
• The synergistic combination of Fe3O4 and CeO2 significantly boosts antioxidant and antiamyloidogenic bioactivities.
• These NCPs show great potential for advanced biomedical applications requiring combined magnetic and antioxidant functionalities.