Custom-Made Ceria Nanoparticles Show a Neuroprotective Effect by Modulating Phenotypic Polarization of the Microglia

The neuroprotective effect of ceria nanoparticles in the context of brain disorders has been explained by their antioxidant effect. However, the in-depth mechanism remains unknown. As resident immune cells in the brain, microglia exert a variety of functional reprogramming termed as polarization in response to stress stimuli. Herein, custom-made ceria nanoparticles were developed and found to scavenge multiple reactive oxygen species with extremely high efficiency. These nanoparticles drove microglial polarization from a pro-inflammatory phenotype to an anti-inflammatory phenotype under pathological conditions. Pretreatment of these nanoparticles changed the microglial function from detrimental to protective for the neuronal cells by blocking the pro-inflammatory signaling. This work not only helps to elucidate the mechanism of ceria-nanoparticle-mediated neuroprotection but also provides a new strategy to rebalance the immuno-environment by switching the equilibrium of the phenotypic activation of microglia.