Safe-Shields: Basal and Anti-UV Protection of Human Keratinocytes by Redox-Active Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles Prevents UVB-Induced Mutagenesis

Abstract

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (nanoceria), biocompatible multifunctional nanozymes exerting unique biomimetic activities, mimic superoxide-dismutase and catalase through a self-regenerating, energy-free redox cycle driven by Ce3+/4+ valence switch. Additional redox-independent UV-filter properties render nanoceria ideal multitask solar screens, shielding from UV exposure, simultaneously protecting tissues from UV-oxidative damage. Here, we report that nanoceria favour basal proliferation of primary normal keratinocytes, and protects them from UVB-induced DNA damage, mutagenesis, and apoptosis, minimizing cell loss and accelerating recovery with flawless cells. Similar cell-protective effects were found on irradiated noncancerous, but immortalized, p53-null HaCaT keratinocytes, with the notable exception that here, nanoceria do not accelerate basal HaCaT proliferation. Notably, nanoceria protect HaCaT from oxidative stress induced by irradiated titanium dioxide nanoparticles, a major active principle of commercial UV-shielding lotions, thus neutralizing their most critical side effects. The intriguing combination of nanoceria multiple beneficial properties opens the way for smart and safer containment measures of UV-induced skin damage and carcinogenesis.

Progress of Research on Antioxidants and Carriers for Skin Wound Repair

“…Li et al [58] prepared CuCo 2 S 4 nanoenzyme, using solvothermal synthesis, which showed excellent peroxidase-like activity under neutral conditions and was proved to have the capacity to accelerate the healing of pH-neutral burn wounds. Cerium oxide nanoparticles (nanoceria) (Figure 3) [59] are a kind of multifunctional enzymes with biocompatibility and a unique biomimetic activity, which can shield UV radiation, protect tissues from UV-oxidation damage and open the way to a smarter and safer reduction in skin damage and cancer caused by UV rays. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has attracted much attention in the field of biomedicine because of their anti-inflammatory, bacteriostatic, antioxidant and wound-healing capacities.…”