Unresolved Cytotoxicity of Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles in Biomedicine

Determine the extent and conditions of cytotoxicity of cerium oxide nanoparticles in biomedical applications, including whether their use—either as free nanoparticles or encapsulated within poly(ε‑caprolactone) fibers—is biocompatible across relevant exposure scenarios.

Background

The paper investigates encapsulating cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2NPs) within electrospun poly(ε‑caprolactone) (PCL) fibers to mitigate the cytotoxicity observed with direct nanoparticle exposure while retaining antioxidant activity. While the study shows improved cell viability with PCL-encapsulated nanoceria in vitro, broader safety questions persist in the field.

In the Discussion, the authors explicitly acknowledge that, despite promising biomedical potential and preliminary mitigation strategies like polymer encapsulation, the overall cytotoxicity of cerium oxide nanoparticles remains an unresolved issue. Clarifying this is essential for safe translation to biomedical applications.

References

Despite the significant potential of CeO2NPs in biomedicine, questions regarding their cytotoxicity remain unresolved.

— Advancing Biomedical Applications: Antioxidant and Biocompatible Cerium Oxide Nanoparticle-Integrated Poly-ε- caprolactone Fibers  (2404.17091 - Jahan et al., 2024) in Section 4 (Discussion)