Mesoporous Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles with High Scavenging Properties of Reactive Oxygen Species for Treating Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of vision loss among older individuals, is characterized by damage to photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPEs). Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation in the retina play notable roles in AMD pathogenesis, rendering them attractive therapeutic targets. Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeNPs) have shown promise in scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) by mimicking antioxidant enzymes, whereas mesoporous materials have emerged as versatile drug carriers. Herein, mesoporous CeNPs (mCeNPs) that integrate the advantages of CeNPs and mesoporous materials are presented. The mCeNPs can be synthesized using 1,1′-carbonyldiimidazole and imidazole in acetone without heating and pressurization. The resulting mCeNPs exhibit mesoporous structures comprising assembled small CeNPs, exerting excellent ROS-scavenging capabilities, biocompatibility, and cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects against H₂O₂-induced damage in RPEs. Using a sodium iodate-induced AMD mouse model, it is demonstrated that intravitreal mCeNP administration can exhibit disease-preventive effects. These findings indicate the therapeutic potential of mCeNPs against AMD.