High antioxidant activity of gadolinium-yttrium orthovanadate nanoparticles in cell-free and biological milieu

Oxidative stress caused by an overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is the key factor in developing a variety of pathological conditions. Recently various nanomaterials have attracted growing interest as nanoantioxidants with ROS-regulating ability. Here, for the first time, we report on high antioxidant behavior (enzyme-like activity) of GdYVO4:Eu3+ nanoparticles (GdYVO NPs) revealed by spectroscopic methods both in cell-free and biological milieu using various ROS sensors. It was revealed that GdYVO NPs (d = 2 nm) effectively scavenge hydroxyl radicals ((OH)-O-center dot), superoxide anions (O-2-(center dot)), 2 hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), peroxyl radicals (ROO center dot), and remarkably reduce the lipopolysaccharide-induced ROS generation in rat leukocytes. The antioxidant activity of GdYVO NPs is ascribed to high amount of V4+ and V3+ ions in the structure of the NPs and the reversible switching V3+ <-> V4+ and V4+ <-> V5+ vanadium oxidation states.

Automated summary

GdYVO4:Eu3+ nanoparticles exhibit strong antioxidant activity and can effectively scavenge various reactive oxygen species, suggesting their potential applications as nanoantioxidants.