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A concise review on the role of selenium for bone cancer applications
Yanhao Hou1, Weiguang Wang1, Paulo Bartolo1
1Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
Abstract:
Cancer is one of the most challenging health problems in the world. Several clinical treatments have been developed, but all presenting several limitations. Among different types of cancer, bone cancer is less common, and limited new clinical treatment strategies have been proposed. Recently, a range of advanced materials has been investigated and applied for bone cancer treatment applications. However, due to the unique physiological properties of the bone tissue (a load-bearing tissue), the selection of the right type of material or the combination of suitable functional materials and base materials are critical. Selenium has been reported to present specific targeting inhibition effects on bone cancer without affecting the surrounding healthy tissue, revealing a huge potential for the development of new bone cancer treatment strategies. This paper presents a concise review on the use of selenium for bone cancer applications, discussing main synthesis methods, biocompatibility, and cytotoxicity aspects and the combination of selenium with a wide range of ceramics, metals, and polymers. Future perspectives and the novel concept of a dual-functional scaffold for both cancer treatment and new bone regeneration are also discussed.
Insights
Selenium shows promise for novel bone cancer treatments by targeting cancer cells specifically. This review explores selenium
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Oncology
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Bone cancer treatment faces limitations with current strategies.
- Advanced materials are being explored for bone cancer therapy.
- The unique load-bearing nature of bone tissue complicates material selection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the application of selenium in bone cancer treatment.
- To discuss synthesis, biocompatibility, and cytotoxicity of selenium-based materials.
- To explore the combination of selenium with various biomaterials.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on selenium for bone cancer.
- Analysis of synthesis methods for selenium-based materials.
- Evaluation of biocompatibility and cytotoxicity data.
Main Results:
- Selenium exhibits targeted inhibition of bone cancer cells.
- Selenium shows potential when combined with ceramics, metals, and polymers.
- Biocompatibility and cytotoxicity are key considerations for selenium integration.
Conclusions:
- Selenium offers a promising strategy for targeted bone cancer therapy.
- Further research into dual-functional scaffolds for bone cancer and regeneration is warranted.
- Selenium-based biomaterials could revolutionize bone cancer treatment.
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