Neural progenitor cells (NPCs) therapy, a promising therapeutic
strategy for neurodegenerative diseases, has a huge challenge to ensure
high survival rate and neuronal differentiation rate. Cerium oxide
(CeO2) nanoparticles exhibit multienzyme mimetic activities
and have shown the capability of regulating reactive oxygen species
(ROS), which is a pivotal mediator for intracellular redox homeostasis
in NPCs, regulating biological processes including differentiation,
proliferation, and apoptosis. In the present study, the role of facet-dependent
CeO2-mediated redox homeostasis in regulating self-renewal
and differentiation of NPCs is reported for the first time. The cube-,
rod-, and octahedron-shaped CeO2 nanozymes with different
facets are prepared. Among the mentioned nanozymes, the cube enclosed
by the (100) facet exhibits the highest CAT-like activity, causing
it to provide superior protection to NPCs from oxidative stress induced
by H2O2; meanwhile, the octahedron enclosed
by the (111) facet with the lowest CAT-like activity induces the most
ROS production in ReNcell CX cells, which promotes neuronal differentiation
by activated AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin pathways. A further
mechanistic study indicated that the electron density of the surface
Ce atoms changed continuously with different crystal facets, which
led to their different CAT-like activity and modulation of redox homeostasis
in NPCs. Altogether, the different surface chemistry and atomic architecture
of active sites on CeO2 exert modulation of redox homeostasis
and the fate of NPCs.