Selenium Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications: From Development and Characterization to Therapeutics.

Cláudio Ferro,Helena F Florindo,Hélder A Santos

doi:10.1002/adhm.202100598

Cláudio Ferro, Helena F Florindo + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.202100598

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Abstract

Selenium (Se) is an essential element to human health that can be obtained in nature through several sources. In the human body, it is incorporated into selenocysteine, an amino acid used to synthesize several selenoproteins, which have an active center usually dependent on the presence of Se. Although Se shows several beneficial properties in human health, it has also a narrow therapeutic window, and therefore the excessive intake of inorganic and organic Se-based compounds often leads to toxicity. Nanoparticles based on Se (SeNPs) are less toxic than inorganic and organic Se. They are both biocompatible and capable of effectively delivering combinations of payloads to specific cells following their functionalization with active targeting ligands. Herein, the main origin of Se intake, its role on the human body, and its primary biomedical applications are revised. Particular focus will be given to the main therapeutic targets that are explored for SeNPs in cancer therapies, discussing the different functionalization methodologies used to improve SeNPs stability, while enabling the extensive delivery of drug-loaded SeNP to tumor sites, thus avoiding off-target effects.

Highlights

Selenium (Se) is an essential element to human health that can be obtained in selenoproteins, whose function often depends on the presence of Se in their acnature through several sources
Se is an essential element for human health, its intake depends on geographic location and the aliments consumed, several forms of Se supplementation are currently available
It is used for production of selenoproteins, which usually incorporate Se in the form of selenocysteine in their active center

Summary

Introduction

Selenium (Se) is an essential element to human health that can be obtained in selenoproteins, whose function often depends on the presence of Se in their acnature through several sources. Introduction attracting the attention of the scientific community for their application as therapeutic and theranostic agents.[5,14,15,16] Selenium (Se), initially discovered by Jons Jacob Berzelius, is SeNPs are described as nanomaterials that have a main inora chemical element essential to human health.[1,2,3] The twenty- ganic therapeutic core consisting of Se (0), that can be stabifirst amino acid, selenocysteine (Sec),[4] is used to produce lized/functionalized with specific compounds or loaded with active drugs.[13] SeNPs led to the production of higher levels. Santos Drug Research Program Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology Faculty of Pharmacy of ROS than those obtained following the treatment of cancer cells with selenite, presenting better antitumor properties than the Se salts.[5,17] In addition, SeNPs present versatile physical properties, such as the possibility of forming different

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