Sol-gel synthesis and cytotoxicity evaluation of selenium-doped cerium oxide nanoparticles for biomedical

Hossein Javid1,2,3, Hamed Amiri1, Seyedeh Fatemeh Hashemi4

  • 1Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

Insights

Selenium-doped cerium oxide nanoparticles (Se-doped CONPs) show significant potential in combating ovarian cancer. This novel nanomaterial effectively reduced cancer cell viability and inflammatory markers in ovarian cancer cells.

Area of Science:

  • Nanomedicine
  • Materials Science
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Ovarian cancer remains a significant health challenge with limited treatment advancements.
  • Nanotechnology offers promising avenues for novel cancer therapies.
  • Both cerium oxide nanoparticles (CONPs) and selenium (Se) have demonstrated anti-cancer properties individually.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To synthesize and characterize selenium-doped cerium oxide nanoparticles (Se-doped CONPs).
  • To evaluate the anti-cancer efficacy of Se-doped CONPs against human epithelial ovarian carcinoma (HEOC) cells.
  • To investigate the impact of Se-doped CONPs on reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory gene expression in HEOC cells.

Main Methods:

  • Se-doped CONPs were synthesized using cerium nitrate hexahydrate, sodium selenite, and gelatin.
  • Structural and morphological characterization was performed using EDX, XRD, and TEM/PSA imaging.
  • HEOC cells were treated with Se-doped CONPs, and cell viability, ROS levels, and gene expression (TNF, IL-6, IL-1B) were assessed.

Main Results:

  • Se-doped CONPs exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity with IC50 values of 113 and 49 PPM at 24 and 48 hours, respectively.
  • Treatment with Se-doped CONPs (50 and 100 PPM) significantly reduced ROS levels in HEOC cells.
  • Se-doped CONPs significantly downregulated TNF, IL-6, and IL-1B gene expression in HEOC cells compared to controls.

Conclusions:

  • Se-doped CONPs demonstrate significant anti-cancer potential against ovarian cancer cell lines.
  • The mechanism involves reduction of ROS and inflammatory cytokine expression.
  • This study highlights Se-doped CONPs as a promising candidate for ovarian cancer therapy.

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