Spectroscopic Manifestations of RNA Photostabilization by Cerium Dioxide Nanoparticles

Authors

  • V. Kudrya Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Faculty of Physics
  • N. Tkach Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Faculty of Physics
  • O. Dmytrenko Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Faculty of Physics
  • N. Zholobak D.K. Zabolotnyi Institute of Microbiology and Virology, Nat. Acad. of Sci. of Ukraine
  • A. Naumenko Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Faculty of Physics

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15407/ujpe71.4.370

Keywords:

CeO2 nanoparticles, RNA, optical spectroscopy, fluorescence, phosphorescence, photostability, excited states

Abstract

A spectroscopic study of the influence of cerium dioxide (CeO2) nanoparticles on the photostability of ribonucleic acid (RNA) in aqueous solution is presented. Optical absorption, fluorescence, and phosphorescence spectroscopy were employed to analyze the interaction of RNA with CeO2 nanoparticles approximately 6 nm in size. It has been shown that the presence of CeO2 nanoparticles does not significantly alter the electronic structure of RNA, while it markedly affects the relaxation pathways of excited electronic states. A decrease in the fluorescence intensity accompanied by an increase in the phosphorescence intensity was observed for RNA in the presence of CeO2 nanoparticles, indicating a redistribution of radiative relaxation channels involving triplet states. Photodegradation studies revealed a reduced degradation rate of RNA upon the addition of CeO2 nanoparticles, without changes in the shape of the absorption spectra. The obtained results demonstrate a photostabilizing effect of cerium dioxide nanoparticles, which can be attributed to the suppression of radical photochemical processes and a reduction in the efficiency of radical degradation pathways.

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Published

2026-04-21

Issue

Vol. 71 No. 4 (2026)

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How to Cite

Spectroscopic Manifestations of RNA Photostabilization by Cerium Dioxide Nanoparticles. (2026). Ukrainian Journal of Physics, 71(4), 370. https://doi.org/10.15407/ujpe71.4.370

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