Cerium-Based Materials for Theranostics: Building a Bridge Across the Divide From Antioxidant Therapy to Diagnostic...

Oxidative stress (OS) serves as a fundamental pathological component in a multitude of chronic diseases, necessitating an all-round theranostic strategy for simultaneous precision intervention and real-time monitoring. Cerium-based nanomaterials (CeNMs), particularly cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeNPs), offer a disruptive theranostic platform on account of their unique Ce³⁺/Ce⁴⁺ redox cycling, intrinsic superoxide dismutase (SOD)- and Catalase (CAT)-mimetic activities, responsiveness to pathological microenvironments (e.g., high ROS and low pH), and inherent or engineerable imaging capabilities (e.g., CT contrast and fluorescence). This review not only systematically probes deep into four "diagnosis-therapy" bridging mechanisms of CeNMs in oxidative-stress-correlated diseases, but also digs into how these mechanisms effectively address the limitations of conventional strategies. On that account, we explore the integrated potential of CeNMs in antioxidant therapy and dynamic monitoring. These materials are poised to become a critical engine driving precision medicine in oxidative-stress-related disorders. For this reason, it facilitates interventions characterized by more individualized, dynamically regulated and safely controllable design.