Catalytic nanoceria are preferentially retained in the rat retina and are not cytotoxic after intravitreal injection.

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (nanoceria) possess catalytic and regenerative radical scavenging activities. The ability of nanoceria to maintain cellular redox balance makes them ideal candidates for treatment of retinal diseases whose development is tightly associated with oxidative damage. We have demonstrated that our stable water-dispersed nanoceria delay photoreceptor cell degeneration in rodent models and prevent pathological retinal neovascularization in vldlr mutant mice.

Bio-distribution and in vivo antioxidant effects of cerium oxide nanoparticles in mice.

Cerium oxide nanoparticles have oxygen defects in their lattice structure that enables them to act as a regenerative free radical scavenger in a physiological environment. We performed a comprehensive in vivo analysis of the biological distribution and antioxidant capabilities of nanoceria administered to mice perorally (PO), intravenously (IV), or intraperitoneally (IP) by dosing animals weekly for 2 or 5 weeks with 0.5 mg kg(-1) nanoceria.

Combined cytotoxic and anti-invasive properties of redox-active nanoparticles in tumor-stroma interactions.

Tumor-stroma interaction plays an important role in tumor progression. Myofibroblasts, pivotal for tumor progression, populate the microecosystem of reactive stroma. The formation of myofibroblasts is mediated by tumor derived transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) which initiates a reactive oxygen species cell type dependent expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin, a biomarker for myofibroblastic cells.

Anti-inflammatory properties of cerium oxide nanoparticles.

The valence and oxygen defect properties of cerium oxide nanoparticles (nanoceria) suggest that they may act as auto-regenerative free radical scavengers. Overproduction of the free radical nitric oxide (NO) by the enzyme inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) has been implicated as a critical mediator of inflammation. NO is correlated with disease activity and contributes to tissue destruction.

Protonated nanoparticle surface governing ligand tethering and cellular targeting.

Nanoparticles have shown tremendous potential for effective drug delivery due to their tiny size and cell membrane penetration capabilities. Cellular targeting with nanoparticles is often achieved by surface modifications followed by ligand conjugation. However, the efficiency of the nanoparticles reaching the target cells and getting internalized depends on the stability of targeting ligands and the chemical nature of the ligand nanoparticle binding.