Haloperoxidase-mimicking CeO_2−<i>x</i>nanorods for the deactivation of human coronavirus OC43

Abstract

Despite the excellent antibacterial and antifouling effects of haloperoxidase (HPO)-mimicking CeO_2-<i>x</i> nanorods, their antiviral efficiency has not been explored. Herein, we designed and synthesized CeO_2-<i>x</i> nanorods with varying aspect ratios <i>via</i> the hydrothermal method. CeO_2-<i>x</i> nanorods catalysed the oxidative bromination of Br^- and H₂O₂ to HOBr, the kinetics of which were studied systematically using a phenol red assay. The CeO_2-<i>x</i> nanorods with the optimized aspect ratio (<i>i.e.</i>, 4.5) demonstrated strong antiviral efficacies against the human coronavirus OC43, with no visible toxicity to the HCT-8 host cells.