Bovine Serum Albumin-Coated Ceria Nanoparticles Activate the TGF-β Signaling Pathway for Periodontal Bone Regeneration

Heterogeneous human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs) are the key seed cells to address the regeneration of periodontal bone defects, and nanomaterials b ring strategies for periodontal bone regeneration. Herein, we synthesized cerium-based nanoparticles by a convenient, green, and efficient bovine serum albumin (BSA) culture strategy. The results of in vitro experiments showed that CeO2@BSA had a significant ability to promote osteogenesis in hPDLCs at lower concentrations, which was mediated through TGF-β signaling pathway. However, this ability was diminished at high concentrations, which may be caused by excessive activation of autophagy. Notably, the osteogenic potential of hPDLCs was inhibited after autophagy was blocked. The construction of tissue-engineered membranes confirmed that CeO2@BSA facilitated reconstruction of periodontal bone defects in Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats. Our work demonstrated that CeO2@BSA exhibited efficient therapeutic effects in osteogenic differentiation and periodontal bone defect repair, while greatly expanding the application of CeO2@BSA in disease treatment.