Cerium oxide based nanozymes: Redox phenomenon at biointerfaces

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Cerium oxide nanoparticles (nanoceria) exhibit diverse enzyme-like activities, including catalase, oxidase, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase.
• Nanoceria offer advantages over natural enzymes due to low-cost synthesis, tunable activity, and enhanced stability under physiological conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively review the biological enzyme-like activities of nanoceria.
• To elucidate the mechanisms underlying nanoceria's catalytic properties.
• To investigate how nanoceria's physicochemical properties change in biological environments and their implications.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of reported biological enzyme-like activities of nanoceria.
• Analysis of studies investigating nanoceria's catalytic mechanisms.
• Examination of research on nanoceria property alterations in biological buffers and cellular environments.

Main Results:

• Nanoceria demonstrate significant enzyme mimetic properties relevant to various biomedical applications.
• Physicochemical properties of nanoceria, including surface charge, size, and surface chemistry, are altered upon exposure to biological media.
• Changes in nanoceria properties within mammalian cells may stem from intrinsic activity or interactions with biological components.

Conclusions:

• Understanding the alterations in nanoceria properties within biological systems is crucial for optimizing their biomedical applications.
• Further research is needed to differentiate between intrinsic catalytic activity and environmentally induced effects on nanoceria.
• Clarifying these aspects will enhance the application of nanoceria in combating free radical damage in biological systems.