Neuroprotective potential of cerium oxide nanoparticles for focal cerebral ischemic stroke

During the previous years, with the emerging of nanotechnology, the enormous capabilities of nanoparticles have drawn great attention from researchers in terms of their potentials in various aspects of pharmacology. Cerium oxide nanoparticles (nanoceria), considered as one of the most widely used nanomaterials, due to its tempting catalytic antioxidant properties, show a promising potential in diverse disorders, such as cerebral ischemic stroke (CIS), cancer, neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases. Overwhelming generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) during cerebral ischemia and reperfusion periods is known to aggravate brain damage via sophisticated cellular and molecular mechanisms, and therefore exploration of the antioxidant capacities of nanoceria becomes a new approach in reducing cerebral ischemic injury. Furthermore, utilizing nanoceria as a drug carrier might display the propensity to overcome limitations or inefficacy of other conceivable neuroprotectants and exhibit synergistic effects. In this review, we emphasize on the principle features of nanoceria and current researches concerning nanoceria as a potential therapeutic agent or carrier in improving the prognosis of CIS.