Curcumin‐Loaded PEGylated Nanoceria Composite Promotes Diabetic Wound Healing by Suppressing Ferroptosis and Modulating the Inflammatory Microenvironment
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: ABSTRACT Diabetic wounds are characterized by persistent oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and impaired angiogenesis, and current therapies remain inadequate. Herein, we developed a curcumin‐loaded PEGylated nanoceria composite (CP@nCeO 2 ) composed of an ultrasmall nCeO 2 core (5–8 nm) within a PEG/curcumin shell. The nanocomposite exhibited uniform spherical morphology, mixed Ce 3+ /Ce 4+ oxidation states, good colloidal stability, and pH‐responsive curcumin release. CP@nCeO 2 retained robust SOD—and CAT‐like activities, showed efficient cellular uptake, excellent hemocompatibility, and no significant cytotoxicity at ≤ 75 μg/mL. In HUVECs, CP@nCeO 2 promoted migration, scavenged intracellular and mitochondrial ROS, upregulated VEGF, and suppressed ferroptosis‐related markers (GPX4, FSP1, ACSL4) and HMGB1. In STZ‐induced diabetic mice, topical CP@nCeO 2 accelerated wound closure, reduced serum CRP and PCT, enhanced re‐epithelialization and epidermal thickness, and increased CD31 + microvessel density. Mechanistically, CP@nCeO 2 elevated GSH, upregulated GPX4 and FSP1, downregulated ACSL4, and shifted cytokines toward an anti‐inflammatory profile (increased IL‐4/IL‐10; decreased IL‐1β, IFN‐γ, IL‐6). Collectively, CP@nCeO 2 integrates the antioxidant activity of nCeO 2 with the anti‐inflammatory and pro‐angiogenic effects of curcumin, providing a safe and effective topical nanotherapeutic platform for diabetic wound healing by suppressing ferroptosis, reducing oxidative stress, and modulating inflammation.
DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.70180
Authors: Junhua Cao, Yanli Li, Minjing Chen, Zhaofeng Han, Ya Xu
Institution: First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University
Language: English
Topic: Wound Healing and Treatments
Subfield: Rehabilitation
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W7224756843