In Situ Crystallized Ceria-Vesicle Nanohybrid Therapeutic for Effective Treatment of Inflammatory Intraocular Disease

Posterior uveitis is a leading cause of vision impairment and blindness globally due to its detrimental effects on the choroid and retina. The condition is worsened by oxidative stress, which heightens inflammation and perpetuates a cycle of damage that current treatments only temporarily relieve. To address this, a novel treatment involving the in situ crystallization of ultrasmall cerium oxide nanoparticles (≈3 nm) on mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) extracellular vesicles (EVs) for the management of primed mycobacterial uveitis (PMU) is developed. This nanohybrid leverages the individual and synergistic effects of its components for a comprehensive therapeutic approach. The cerium oxide nanoparticles act as a nanozyme to reduce inflammation and scavenge excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), while the MSC EVs, with their biocompatibility, modulate inflammatory cell infiltration and alleviate tissue damage. This synergistic system offers a promising new treatment strategy for ocular diseases characterized by oxidative stress and inflammation.