Ceria nanoparticles: biomedical applications and toxicity

Ceria nanoparticles (CeO₂ NPs) have become popular materials in biomedical and industrial fields due to their potential applications in anti-oxidation, cancer therapy, photocatalytic degradation of pollutants, sensors, etc. Many methods, including gas phase, solid phase, liquid phase, and the newly proposed green synthesis method, have been reported for the synthesis of CeO₂ NPs. Due to the wide application of CeO₂ NPs, concerns about their adverse impacts on human health have been raised. This review covers recent studies on the biomedical applications of CeO₂ NPs, including their use in the treatment of various diseases (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease, ischemic stroke, retinal damage, chronic inflammation, and cancer). CeO₂ NP toxicity is discussed in terms of the different systems of the human body (e.g., cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, respiratory toxicity, neurotoxicity, and hepatotoxicity). This comprehensive review covers both fundamental discoveries and exploratory progress in CeO₂ NP research that may lead to practical developments in the future.