Safety assessment and gastrointestinal retention of orally administered cerium oxide nanoparticles in rats

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO₂ NPs, NM-212) are well-known for their catalytic properties and antioxidant potential, and have many applications in various industries, drug delivery, and cosmetic formulations. CeO₂ NPs exhibit strong antimicrobial activity and can be used to efficiently remove pathogens from different environments. However, knowledge of the toxicological evaluation of CeO₂ NPs is too limited to support their safe use. In this study, CeO₂ NPs were orally administered to Sprague Dawley rats for 13 weeks at the doses of 0, 10, 100, and 1000 mg/kg bw/day, followed by a four week recovery period. The hematology values for the absolute and relative reticulocyte counts in male rats treated with 1000 mg/kg bw/day CeO₂ NPs were lower than those in control rats. The clinical chemistry values for sodium and chloride in the treated male rat groups (100 and 1000 mg/kg/day) and total protein and calcium in the treated female rat groups (100 mg/kg/day) were higher than those in the control groups. However, these changes were not consistent in both sexes, and no abnormalities were found in the corresponding pathological findings. The results showed no adverse effects on any of the parameters assessed. CeO₂ NPs accumulated in the jejunum, colon, and stomach wall of rats administered 1000 mg/kg CeO₂ NPs for 90 days. However, these changes were not abnormal in the corresponding histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations. Therefore, 1000 mg/kg bw/day may be considered the "no observed adverse effect level" of CeO₂ NPs (NM-212) in male and female SD rats under the present experimental conditions.