Reply to "comment on 'Free-Radical Formation by the Peroxidase-Like Catalytic Activity of MFe2O4 (M = Fe, Ni, and Mn) Nanoparticles'"

Abstract

Recently we have reported a qualitative, quantitative and reproducible study of the generation of free radicals as a result of the surface catalytic activity of Fe3O4, Fe2O3, MnFe2O4 and NiFe2O4 nanoparticles as a function of the Fe2+/Fe3+ oxidation state under different pHs (4.8 and 7.4) and temperatures (25 ºC and 40 ºC) condition. These results were contrasted with those obtained from the in vitro experiments in BV2 cells incubated with dextran-coated magneticnanoparticles. Based on these results we affirm that our ferrite magnetic nanoparticles catalyze the formation of free radicals and the decomposition of H2O2 by a ?peroxidase-like? activity. In a comment on this article, Meunier and A. Robert question two points: First they assert that the measured free radicals are not produced by a peroxidase reaction. Also, based on a different normalization method from those reported in our work, they also discuss that the reaction is not catalytic. Here we reply the arguments of the authors about these two points.