There are few reports on the physiological effects of metal nanoparticles (nps), especially with respect to their functions as scavengers for superoxide anion radical (O-2(center dot-)) and hydroxyl radical (center dot OH). We tried to detect the scavenging activity of Pt nps using a hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase system for O-2(center dot-) and using a Fenton and a UV/H2O2 system for center dot OH. Electron spin resonance analysis revealed that 2 nm particle size Pt nps have the ability to scavenge O-2(center dot-) and center dot OH. The calculated rate constant for the O-2(center dot-)-scavenging reaction was 5.03 +/- 0.03 x 10(7) M-1 s(-1). However, the analysis of the Fenton and UV/H2O2 system in the presence of Pt nps suggested that the center dot OH-scavenging reaction cannot be determined in both systems. Among particle sizes tested from 1 to 5 nm, 1 nm Pt nps showed the highest O-2(center dot-)-scavenging ability. Almost no cytotoxicity was observed even after adherent cells (TIG-1, HeLa, HepG2, WI-38, and MRC-5) were exposed to Pt nps at concentrations as high as 50 mg/L. Pt nps scavenged intrinsically generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) in HeLa cells. Additionally, Pt nps significantly reduced the levels of intracellular O-2(center dot-) generated by UVA irradiation and subsequently protected HeLa cells from ROS damage-induced cell death. These findings suggest that Pt nps may be a new type of antioxidant capable of circumventing the paradoxical effects of conventional antioxidants.