REVIEW article
Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol.
Sec. Nanobiotechnology
Engineered Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles for Enhanced Diabetic Foot Ulcer Healing
Provisionally accepted
- 1The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
- 2Haikou People's Hospital, Haikou, China
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Word count: 156 One of the main complications of diabetes is diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), which have a substantial global impact on morbidity, medical expenses, and lower limb amputations. A complicated microenvironment—characterized by bacterial infections, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and poor angiogenesis impedes the healing process of DFUs. Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO₂ nanoparticles), owing to their antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, have emerged as a promising treatment. These nanoparticles can scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS), reduce inflammation, and stimulate tissue regeneration by modulating macrophage polarization and promoting angiogenesis. However, limitations such as poor biocompatibility, aggregation, and dose-dependent toxicity hinder their clinical application. Recent advances in coating strategies—including polymeric, natural biomolecule, and hybrid coatings have improved the stability, targeting, and controlled release of CeO₂ nanoparticles. This review discusses the design, therapeutic mechanisms, and safety considerations of coated CeO₂ nanoparticles in DFU treatment, with emphasis on combination therapies and smart-responsive coatings. Clinical translation challenges and future research directions are also addressed.
Keywords: Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles, Diabetic foot ulcers, Coating strategies, antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory, Biocompatibility, Angiogenesis, extracellular matrix remodeling
Received: 30 Aug 2025; Accepted: 17 Nov 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Fu, Chen, Mo, Ma and Zhan. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Liheng Ma, liheng.ma@163.com
Yuefu Zhan, zyfradiology@hainmc.edu.cn
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.