Selenoprotein L-inspired nano-vesicular peroxidase mimics based on amphiphilic diselenides

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In this study, we developed selenoprotein L-inspired nano-vesicular peroxidase mimics based on amphiphilic diselenides. Selenocystine (SeCyst) was used as the starting material for the synthesis of four liposomal membrane-compatible diselenide derivatives (R−Se−Se−R’) with two hydrophobic tails and a polar part. The diselenide derivatives were successfully incorporated into the phosphatidylcholine (PC)-based nano-vesicular scaffold. The results of the particle diameter and zeta-potential measurements suggested that the functional diselenide moiety was placed around the outer surface, not in the hydrophobic interior, of the liposomal membrane structures. The GPx-like catalytic activity of the diselenide/PC liposomes was determined by the conventional NADPH method using glutathione as the reducing substrate. For three peroxide substrates, i.e., hydrogen peroxide, organic tert-butyl hydroperoxide and cummen hydroperoxide, the cationic property-possessing diselenide derivatives in the PC-based liposomes resulted in a higher catalytic activity in comparison to electrically neutral and anionic derivatives. Overall, the diselenide derivatives at the surface of a liposomal colloidal scaffold could exert a GPx-like catalytic activity in physiological aqueous media.