Yeast β-glucan as a surfactant for selenium nanoparticles: Synthesis, characterization, bioavailability, and...

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have garnered considerable attention due to their remarkable properties and diverse applications. However, their inherent instability remains a major challenge. In this study, yeast β-glucan was employed as a surfactant, and yeast β-glucan-stabilized selenium nanoparticles (yeast β-glu-SeNPs) were successfully synthesized via a chemical reduction method. Single-factor and orthogonal experiments were conducted to optimize the synthesis parameters, identifying the optimal conditions as a yeast β-glucan concentration of 3 mg/mL, an ascorbic acid (Vc)-to‑sodium selenite ratio of 3:1, and a reaction time of 1 h. Characterization revealed that the yeast β-glu-SeNPs were uniformly spherical, with an average particle size of 66.2 nm. In vivo evaluation in selenium-deficient mice demonstrated that these nanoparticles significantly improved selenium absorption and bioavailability. Furthermore, yeast β-glu-SeNPs upregulated key selenoproteins and activated the AMPK/PGC-1α signaling pathway, facilitating skeletal muscle fiber type transformation. These findings suggest that yeast β-glu-SeNPs represent a superior selenium supplement with promising potential to enhance muscle health and performance through efficient selenium metabolism and fiber modulation.