Abstract Gold (Au) can be deposited as nanoparticles (NPs) smaller than 10 nm in diameter on a variety of metal oxide (MOx) NPs. Au/MOx have high catalytic performance and selective oxidation capacity which could have implications in terms of biological activity, and more specifically in modulation of the inflammatory reaction. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the effect of Au/TiO 2 , Au/ZrO 2 and Au/CeO 2 on viability, phagocytic capacity and inflammatory profile (TNF-α and IL-1β secretion) of murine macrophages. The most important result of this study is an anti-inflammatory effect of Au/MOx depending on the MOx nature with particle internalization and no alteration of cell viability and phagocytosis. The effect was dependent on the MOx NPs chemical nature (Au/TiO 2 > Au/ZrO 2 > Au/CeO 2 if we consider the number of cytokines whose concentration was reduced by the NPs), and on the inflammatory mediator considered. The effect of Au/TiO 2 NPs was not related to Au NPs size (at least in the case of Au/TiO 2 NPs in the range of 3–8 nm). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of an anti-inflammatory effect of Au/MOx.