A Comparative Study of Green and Chemical Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles (CeO2-NPs): From Synthesis, Characterization, and Electrochemical Analysis to Multifaceted Biomedical Applications

The underline study focuses on the comparative physicochemical and morphological characteristics, electrochemical analysis, and biological properties of green and chemically synthesized cerium oxide nanoparticles. Green synthesis (G-CeO 2 -NPs) was carried out using an aqueous root extract of Polygonum bistorta Linn as a reducing and capping agent while chemical synthesis (C-CeO 2 -NPs) was achieved using ammonium hydroxide (NH 4 OH) solution via facile precipitation approach. The prepared nanoparticles were investigated for physicochemical, morphological, elemental, and electrochemical properties using multiple characterization techniques while the comparative yield was also determined. Chemical synthesis resulted in cerium oxide nanoparticles (C-CeO 2 -NPs) with higher yield and specific capacitance compared to green synthesis. However, green synthesized cerium oxide nanoparticles (G-CeO 2 -NPs) were biologically more active. For instance, G-CeO 2 -NPs exhibited better antioxidant and bactericidal properties as well as superior leishmanicidal properties, against the amastigote and promastigote stages of the Leishmania tropica , the dimorphic parasite that causes Leishmaniasis. The NPs also demonstrated moderate but comparable anti-Alzheimer’s and antidiabetic properties in in vitro studies. Finally, both the chemical and green synthesized CeO 2 -NPs proved significant hemocompatibility, making cerium oxide nanoparticles, mainly the G-CeO 2 -NPs, biologically more active, nontoxic, eco-friendly, and favorable candidates for diverse pharmacological studies. Graphical Abstract