Unveiling the effect of 11-MUA coating on biocompatibility and catalytic activity of a gold-core cerium oxide-shell-based nanozyme

The biocompatibility and catalytic activity of nanomaterials exhibiting biological enzyme-like functions (nanozymes) are controlled by shape, size, composition, and surface capping molecules. Although synthesis of multifunctional nanozymes for multiple applications has shown tremendous attraction among researchers worldwide, often their biocompatibility is compromised. In this work, we report the replacement of CTAB by 11-MUA from the surface of a Au-core CeO2-shell NP-based nanozyme studied for exhibiting multiple enzyme-like activities such as peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase. We compared the biocompatibility and enzyme-like activities of CTAB coated Au-core CeO2-shell NPs (CSNPs) before and after 11-MUA coating. The catalytic reaction mechanism of peroxidase-like activity of CTAB coated CSNPs was found to be the "Random Bi-Bi", which also remained unaltered after removal of surface CTAB with 11-MUA. The other kinetic parameters, Km and Vmax values, of 11-MUA coated CSNPs were found to be comparable to the CTAB coated NPs.