Discipline: Nanoscience or Materials Science
Subcategory: Materials Science
Session: 1
Room: Forum
NITHIN KRISSHNA GUNASEKARAN - Norfolk State University, VIRGINIA
Co-Author(s): Prathima Prabhu Tumkur, Norfolk State University, VA; Nicole Nazario Bayon, Norfolk State University, VA; Krishnan Prabhakaran, Norfolk State University, VA; Joseph C Hall, Norfolk State University, VA; Govindarajan T Ramesh, Norfolk State University, VA
Cerium oxide and turmeric have antioxidant properties, which have gained interest among researchers to study their applications in the field of biomedicine, such as anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antimicrobial applications. In this study, the turmeric extract was prepared and mixed with cerium nitrate hexahydrate, stirred continuously to obtain a homogeneous solution, and then heated on a hot plate to get the supernatant evaporated, which was then calcinated at 600°C to obtain the cerium oxide nanoparticles. Characterization of synthesized cerium oxide nanoparticles through Scanning Electron Microscopy determined the particle size to be in the range of 70 nm to 250 nm, and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy determined the elemental composition of cerium and oxygen. At higher magnifications, the particle size was around 70 nm which was determined using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy. The presence of cerium oxide was assured by analyzing the spectrum obtained through the characterization of cerium oxide nanoparticles by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The cubic fluorite structure of cerium oxide nanoparticles was confirmed by analyzing the peaks obtained through the X-Ray Diffraction method, and the crystal size was determined to be 13 nm. The biocompatibility studies of cerium oxide nanoparticles were carried out using MTT assay in a 96-well plate. The results of the MTT assay revealed that the Beas-2b cells were viable when treated with various concentrations of cerium oxide nanoparticles ranging from 5 µg/well to 50 µg/well, thereby determining that the cerium oxide nanoparticles synthesized using turmeric extract are not toxic. Future research includes characterization using Transmission Electron Microscopy and biocompatibility studies using Live/Dead assay.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): I would like to thank Ms. Olga Trofimova at William and Mary College, Williamsburg, Virginia. This work was supported by National Science Foundation CREST grant # 2112595
Faculty Advisor: GOVINDARAJAN T. RAMESH, gtramesh@nsu.edu
Role: I synthesized and characterized the cerium oxide nanoparticles and performed the biocompatibility studies