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Published on: August 26, 2018
Antioxidant capacities of the selenium nanoparticles stabilized by chitosan
Xiaona Zhai1, Chunyue Zhang1, Guanghua Zhao1
1Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, Beijing Laboratory for Food Quality and Safety, Beijing Dairy Industry Innovation Team, College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China.
Stable selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) synthesized with chitosan (CS) show enhanced antioxidant capacity and lower toxicity. These CS-SeNPs effectively protect against oxidative stress in cellular and animal models, with benefits more pronounced in internal organs than skin.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Biochemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element crucial for redox systems, but its high toxicity limits applications.
- Zero-valent selenium (Se0) offers low toxicity and high bioavailability but is unstable.
- Chitosan (CS) is explored to stabilize Se0 nanoparticles (SeNPs) due to its protective properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the antioxidant capacities of stable Se0 nanoparticles (SeNPs) stabilized by chitosan (CS) with varying molecular weights (Mws).
- To evaluate the stability and bioavailability of CS-SeNPs.
- To assess the protective effects of CS-SeNPs against oxidative stress in cellular and animal models.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of SeNPs stabilized with chitosan of different molecular weights (CS-SeNPs).
- Characterization of particle size and morphology.
- In vitro antioxidant assays (DPPH, ABTS, lipid peroxide models).
- Cellular assays to measure intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS).
- In vivo studies involving topical and oral administration in mice, assessing glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity and lipofuscin formation.
- Acute toxicity testing of CS-SeNPs compared to H2SeO3.
Main Results:
- CS-SeNPs formed uniform spherical particles (approx. 103 nm) after 30 days.
- All CS-SeNPs demonstrated free radical scavenging abilities.
- One-month-old SeNPs exhibited enhanced ABTS scavenging, reaching up to 89.44% for CS(h)-SeNPs.
- CS-SeNPs inhibited intracellular ROS production in a Se concentration-dependent manner.
- Topical or oral administration of CS-SeNPs, especially CS(l)-SeNPs, protected GPx activity and prevented lipofuscin formation in mice.
- CS-SeNPs showed greater efficacy in viscera than in skin.
- The acute toxicity of CS(l)-SeNPs was tenfold lower than that of H2SeO3.
Conclusions:
- CS-SeNPs exhibit lower toxicity and enhanced antioxidant capacities after 30-day storage.
- CS-SeNPs effectively penetrate tissues and exert antioxidant effects, particularly CS(l)-SeNPs in vivo.
- Antioxidant effects of CS-SeNPs are more pronounced in visceral tissues compared to skin.
