Fig. 1

Characterization of cerium oxide nanoparticles. a, b Representative TEM images of CeO₂NPs at different magnifications showing the non-aggregate and spherical shape of the engineered nanoparticles. Inset in b is a High Resolution TEM image of single particle showing pure CeO₂ atomic planes; c UV–Visible absorption spectrum of the as-synthesized CeO₂NPs; d XRD spectrum of the as-synthesized CeO₂NPs after being dried under vacuum. e Z-Potential distribution and f Hydrodynamic diameter measured by DLS of the CeO₂NPs dispersed in the physiological media (saline solution at pH = 5.5); g Cerium concentration in liver, spleen, lung and and kidney from rats treated with CeO₂NPs for 90 min, 3, 6 and 8 weeks (n = 4 for each group). h Oxidative stress was quantified in non-treated and CeO₂NPs-treated HepG2 cells by measuring DCF fluorescence in basal condition and after inducing oxidative stress with 2 mM H₂O₂ added to the culture medium (^#p < 0.0001 vs basal and *p < 0.0001 vs. non-treated, n = 10)