Electroanalytical evaluation of antioxidant activity of cerium oxide nanoparticles by nanoparticle collisions at microelectrodes.

We describe a simple, cost-effective and rapid electrochemical screening approach to evaluate antioxidant activity of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) by single nanoparticle collision at microelectrodes. The method is based on direct monitoring of the interaction between a Pt microelectrode and surface bound superoxo and peroxo anions of CeO2 NPs (Ce-O2(-)/O2(2-)) formed upon exposure to H2O2, selected here as a model reactive oxygen species. We observe an increase in spike current frequency for CeO2 NPs exposed to H2O2, which we attribute to the reduction of surface bound oxygen species when the particles collide with the microelectrode. The results were confirmed with spectroscopic techniques that demonstrate changes in surface reactivity and composition. The spike frequency was found to correlate well with the superoxide dismutase activity of these particles. This approach could enable routine screening of antioxidant NPs using a rapid and inexpensive assay.