Abstract

Optimal distribution of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CONPs) or nanoceria can have a significant impact on their cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, and radioprotection effects. In this study, two different distribution plans of CONPs were investigated. A scanner electron microscope (SEM) was used for chemical analysis and recording of CONP images. Using MTT assay, the non-toxic concentrations of nanoceria with two different distribution plans were determined in MRC-5 and MCF-7 cell lines. Nanoceria cellular uptake at 50, 150, and 250 μM with two different dispersion plans was determined by using the UV/VIS absorbance of cell culture medium after 24 h of incubation. In order to quantify radioprotection effect, cells treated with non-toxic concentrations of nanoceria were exposed to 10, 40, and 100 cGy of 6 MV photon beams. The diameter of the spherical CONPs was 29 nm. Energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis showed that the cerium element has the highest weight percentage in CONPs (97.9). Accumulation rate of filtered and non-filtered suspension were determined as 0.3608 and 14.2708 μg/ml/h, respectively. The 70 and 110 μM concentration of sustained nanoceria suspension did not have any toxicity for MRC-5 and MCF-7 cells, respectively. In both cell lines, 50, 150, and 250 μM of filtered nanoceria had a significant uptake than the non-filtered nanoceria. A total of results showed that the 70 μM of nanoceria have a significant radioprotection on normal cells in the radiation dose of 40 and 100 cGy, while the highest cellular uptake of nanoceria occurred in cancer cells. The results suggest that using of stable distribution of CONPs for radiation protection could be a good choice, knowing that these nanostructures will have selective protection in normal cells. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.