Have a personal or library account? Click to login
Protective effect of green synthesized nanoceria on retinal oxidative stress and inflammation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat Cover

Protective effect of green synthesized nanoceria on retinal oxidative stress and inflammation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat

Open Chemistry
Volume 23 (2025): Issue 1 (January 2025)
By: Hualei Chang,  Yali Ding,  Zhongqiao Zhu and  Juan Zhu  
Open Access
|Sep 2025

Figures & Tables

Schematic 1

Illustration of the synthesis of CeO2NPs using rutin.
Illustration of the synthesis of CeO2NPs using rutin.

Figure 1

UV–vis spectrum of R-CeO2NPs in the solution stat (DI water) with a maximum absorption peak at about 275 nm.
UV–vis spectrum of R-CeO2NPs in the solution stat (DI water) with a maximum absorption peak at about 275 nm.

Figure 2

(a) SEM (scale bar: 400 nm), (b) TEM (scale bar: 500 nm), and (c) TEM (scale bar: 100 nm) images of the R-CeO2NPs synthesized using rutin solution. The images showed that the R-CeO2NPs have a spherical morphology with uniform shape.
(a) SEM (scale bar: 400 nm), (b) TEM (scale bar: 500 nm), and (c) TEM (scale bar: 100 nm) images of the R-CeO2NPs synthesized using rutin solution. The images showed that the R-CeO2NPs have a spherical morphology with uniform shape.

Figure 3

(a) DLS and (b) zeta potential of R-CeO2NPs in DI water (0.1 mg/mL synthesized using rutin solution. Results showed hydrodynamic diameter of 154.3 ± 19.4 nm with the polydispersity index of 0.21 and zeta potential of 12.3 ± 2.4 eV.
(a) DLS and (b) zeta potential of R-CeO2NPs in DI water (0.1 mg/mL synthesized using rutin solution. Results showed hydrodynamic diameter of 154.3 ± 19.4 nm with the polydispersity index of 0.21 and zeta potential of 12.3 ± 2.4 eV.

Figure 4

(a) XRD pattern and (b) EDX spectrum of the R-CeO2NPs synthesized using rutin solution. The XRD pattern revealed the presence of many crystallographic planes, namely (111), (200), (220), (311), and (222). The EDX analysis (b) showed that the synthesized R-CeO2NPs were mainly composed of Ce (79.2%) and O (20.8%).
(a) XRD pattern and (b) EDX spectrum of the R-CeO2NPs synthesized using rutin solution. The XRD pattern revealed the presence of many crystallographic planes, namely (111), (200), (220), (311), and (222). The EDX analysis (b) showed that the synthesized R-CeO2NPs were mainly composed of Ce (79.2%) and O (20.8%).

Figure 5

FTIR spectra of rutin and R-CeO2NPs synthesized using rutin solution. The peaks around 1,120, 1,640, and 2,891 cm−1 can be related to C═O, –C═C–, and C–H of –COOH group, respectively.
FTIR spectra of rutin and R-CeO2NPs synthesized using rutin solution. The peaks around 1,120, 1,640, and 2,891 cm−1 can be related to C═O, –C═C–, and C–H of –COOH group, respectively.

Figure 6

Antioxidant activities of R-CeO2NPs: (a) DPPH radical inhibition percentage and (b) H2O2 radical inhibition percentage. The results showed dose-dependent radical scavenging activities against DPPH and H2O2 free radical, with the highest antioxidant activities at 100 μg/mL.
Antioxidant activities of R-CeO2NPs: (a) DPPH radical inhibition percentage and (b) H2O2 radical inhibition percentage. The results showed dose-dependent radical scavenging activities against DPPH and H2O2 free radical, with the highest antioxidant activities at 100 μg/mL.

Figure 7

Cellular cytotoxicity of R-CeO2NPs against corneal epithelial cells. All values are expressed as mean ± SD (n = 3). (NS, not significant. Analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test as a post hoc analysis. The results showed that the R-CeO2NPs did not induce significant toxicity at each concentration.
Cellular cytotoxicity of R-CeO2NPs against corneal epithelial cells. All values are expressed as mean ± SD (n = 3). (NS, not significant. Analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test as a post hoc analysis. The results showed that the R-CeO2NPs did not induce significant toxicity at each concentration.

Figure 8

Live/dead assay of the cells under treatment with (a) 0 µg/mL, (b) 10 µg/mL, (c) 25 µg/mL, (d) 50 µg/mL, and (e) 100 µg/mL of R-CeO2NPs. The results showed that the R-CeO2NPs did not induce significant toxicity at each concentration.
Live/dead assay of the cells under treatment with (a) 0 µg/mL, (b) 10 µg/mL, (c) 25 µg/mL, (d) 50 µg/mL, and (e) 100 µg/mL of R-CeO2NPs. The results showed that the R-CeO2NPs did not induce significant toxicity at each concentration.

Figure 9

Effects of R-CeO2NPs on food intake, serum insulin, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) on STZ‐induced diabetic rats. All values are expressed as mean ± SD (n = 5). (*) p < 0.05. (**) p < 0.01. Analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test as a post hoc analysis.
Effects of R-CeO2NPs on food intake, serum insulin, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) on STZ‐induced diabetic rats. All values are expressed as mean ± SD (n = 5). (*) p < 0.05. (**) p < 0.01. Analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test as a post hoc analysis.

Figure 10

Effects of R-CeO2NPs on histopathological changes in the diabetic rat retinas: (a) healthy animal, (b) negative control (diabetic animals without treatment), and (c) treatment (diabetic animals treated with R-CeO2NPs). Results showed that the treatment using R-CeO2NPs alleviated the thinning of retina induced by the diabetic condition.
Effects of R-CeO2NPs on histopathological changes in the diabetic rat retinas: (a) healthy animal, (b) negative control (diabetic animals without treatment), and (c) treatment (diabetic animals treated with R-CeO2NPs). Results showed that the treatment using R-CeO2NPs alleviated the thinning of retina induced by the diabetic condition.

Figure 11

mRNA expression level of (a) Nrf2 and (b) HO‐1 under treatment with R-CeO2NP. All values are expressed as mean ± SD (n = 5). (*) p < 0.05. Analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test as a post hoc analysis. The results showed that the treatment using R-CeO2NPs modulated the expression of Nrf2 and HO‐1 mRNA.
mRNA expression level of (a) Nrf2 and (b) HO‐1 under treatment with R-CeO2NP. All values are expressed as mean ± SD (n = 5). (*) p < 0.05. Analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test as a post hoc analysis. The results showed that the treatment using R-CeO2NPs modulated the expression of Nrf2 and HO‐1 mRNA.

Figure 12

Oxidative state of the tissue under treatment with R-CeO2NPs. (a) SOD, (b) CAT, (c) GPx, and (d) malondialdehyde. All values are expressed as mean ± SD (n = 5). (*) p < 0.05. Analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test as a post hoc analysis. The results showed that the treatment using R-CeO2NPs enhanced antioxidant content and reduced the oxidative stress state.
Oxidative state of the tissue under treatment with R-CeO2NPs. (a) SOD, (b) CAT, (c) GPx, and (d) malondialdehyde. All values are expressed as mean ± SD (n = 5). (*) p < 0.05. Analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test as a post hoc analysis. The results showed that the treatment using R-CeO2NPs enhanced antioxidant content and reduced the oxidative stress state.

Physicochemical properties of R-CeO2NPs

Actual sizeDiameter (nm)Polydispersity indexZeta potential (mV)UV–vis λ max (nm)Crystallographic planes
85.0 ± 25.1154.3 ± 19.40.2112.3 ± 2.4257(111), (200), (220), (311), and (222),

Effects of R-CeO2NPs on food intake, serum insulin, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) on STZ‐induced diabetic rats and HbA1c level

HealthyDiabeticTreated
Food intake (g/100 g BW)7.66 ± 3.5135.66 ± 2.824.65 ± 3.51
Insulin level (uIU/mL)18.0 ± 3.17.66 ± 2.5112.66 ± 3.21
HbA1c (%)6.03 ± 1.8517.33 ± 3.5013.0 ± 2.64
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/chem-2025-0189 | Journal eISSN: 2391-5420
Journal RSS Feed
Language: English
Submitted on: Apr 27, 2025
Accepted on: Jun 13, 2025
Published on: Sep 18, 2025
Published by: Sciendo
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Keywords:
retinal oxidative stress,
inflammation,
diabetic retinopathy,
nanoceria
Related subjects:
Chemistry,
Inorganic chemistry,
Chemistry,
Organic chemistry,
Chemistry,
Chemistry, other

© 2025 Hualei Chang, Yali Ding, Zhongqiao Zhu, Juan Zhu, published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Previous articleVolume 23 (2025): Issue 1 (January 2025)Next article