Abstract
Characterization of selenium nanoparticles and selenium nanoparticle–human serum albumin conjugates prepared in nanopowder form, their elemental composition, and particle size distribution were investigated with a microwave plasma optical emission spectrometry operating in a single-particle mode. This new analytical technique was used for the first time to examine the molecular interaction between selenium nanoparticles and human serum albumin regarding potential biomedical applications of selenium nanoparticles. Nanopowder sample was introduced to a helium plasma by pneumatic nebulization based on fluidized bed approach and measured with a time resolution of 20 ms. Both selenium nanoparticles and selenium nanoparticle–human serum albumin conjugates were characterized by observation of synchronous signals from different particle components. Plots of the time correlation between Se and C signals for all particles in selenium nanoparticles and selenium nanoparticle–human serum albumin conjugates samples differed from each other in degree of correlation and synchronicity of recorded signals. The interaction between selenium nanoparticles and human serum albumin was confirmed using Bradford assay. For selenium nanoparticles synthesized using yeast cells, the percentage of bound protein was only of 4%, whereas for selenium nanoparticles synthesized using yeast extract as a stabilizing agent it was 16%.Graphic abstract
Highlights
Selenium nanoparticles have attracted significant interest as a potential source of the element for living organisms being an alternative to common forms of selenium
The goal of this study was to investigate the chemical composition and size distribution of selenium nanoparticle–human serum albumin conjugates prepared in nanopowder form and subsequently characterized by single particle microwave plasma optical emission spectrometry [18]
To obtain representative signal for a single selenium nanoparticle, an integration time ranging from 5 to 50 ms should be used and transport efficiency should be lower than 50 particles per second [18]
Summary
Selenium nanoparticles have attracted significant interest as a potential source of the element for living organisms being an alternative to common forms of selenium. The interaction between these particles and serum proteins leads to the formation of protein corona on selenium. Due to their interaction with proteins, the changes in core and surface chemistry of selenium nanoparticles can be observed. A wide range of applications of selenium nanoparticles in biomedical field calls for both understanding its physicochemical properties in biological fluids and investigating the effect of protein corona formation on particle surface. Human serum albumin is biodegradable, biocompatible, and non-immunogenic protein carrier, which protect drug molecules from degradation, increase drug absorption, and improve cellular uptake and intracellular distribution. To understand the biocompatibility of nanoparticles, potential interactions of human serum albumin with nanoparticles should be investigated [10,11]
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