Preparation and antioxidant capacity of element selenium nanoparticles sol-gel compounds

This paper reported the preparation and antioxidant capacities of element selenium nanoparticles (nanoSe(0))-ascorbic acid (Vc) sol and nanSe(0)/Vc/selenocystine (SeCys) sol-gel compounds. NanoSe(0)-Vc sol was prepared by reduction of selenious dioxide (SeO2) with Vc. In the nanoSe(0)-Vc sol, highly concentrated Vc was also used as a modifier to modulate the diameter of Se(0) nanoparticles in the liquid phase. Then excellent nanoSe(0) sol-gel compounds were obtained by adding SeCys into the nanoSe(0)-Vc sol. The structure of the nanoSe(0)/Vc/SeCys sol-gel compounds was defined, which was constructed via C-Se, Se-H and O=C-Se valences and by interaction between SeCys and Vc via peptide bonds, esterification and dehydration. The antioxidant capacities of the nanoSe(0)-Vc sol and the nanoSe(0)Vc/SeCys sol-gel compounds were estimated by oxygen radical absorption capacity (ORAC) assay. The nanoSe(0)/Vc/SeCys sol-gel compounds possessed a strong antioxidant capacity due to forming the perfect three-dimensional (3D) frameworks structure. The results suggested that the nanoSe(0)-Vc sol and the nanoSe(0)Vc/SeCys sol-gel compounds might be potential medicine, especially antioxidant.