Cerium oxide nanoparticles protect primary osteoblasts against hydrogen peroxide induced oxidative damage

Oxidative damage is an important contributor to the morphological and the functional changes in the development of osteoporosis. In this reported work, the use of cerium oxide (CeO₂) nanoparticles as a potential therapeutic agent for osteoporosis is explored. By using the primary osteoblasts (OBs) exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), it is shown that the CeO₂ nanoparticles relieve the H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage. The protective effects of the CeO₂ nanoparticles were because of a reduction in the reactive oxygen species (ROS). The level of the antioxidant enzymes was increased after treatment with the CeO₂ nanoparticles in the OBs exposed to H₂O₂. Moreover, the cell apoptosis rate was decreased after treatment with the CeO₂ nanoparticles. The CeO₂ nanoparticles protect the OBs against the H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage, suppression of the antioxidant enzymes depletion and cell apoptosis via its ROS scavenging mechanism. The findings suggest that the CeO₂ nanoparticles may have a potentially therapeutic value for the diseases related to the ROS.