Antimicrobial activity of nano cerium oxide (IV) (CeO2) against Streptococcus mutans

Background Cerium oxide (CeO2) is a technologically important material due to its properties and applications in several areas that range from engineering to biological sciences. Despite the hydrothermal microwave method versatility, its crystallization kinetics has low speed when the processing temperatures are below 300°C which are the desired conditions for soft chemistry processes [1,2]. At lower temperatures it was found that this material has antimicrobial activity against several bacteria, including E. coli, B. subtilis, Shewanellaoneidensis and Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, destroying microrganisms cell walls by probable action of reactive oxygen species [3]. When nanoparticles of CeO2 crystals are synthesized (IV), the antimicrobial activity can be better controlled and its spectrum of applications expanded.