Combining Gold and Selenium as Emerging Bioactive Compounds: From Synthesis to Therapeutic Potential

This review outlines an overview of selenium-containing gold compounds, framed within the context of gold chemistry. It emphasizes key synthetic strategies and structural features of Au-Se complexes, encompassing both gold-(I) and gold-(III) species. Various classes of selenium ligands are discussed, including selenols, selenoureas, selenones, and selenium-NHCs, among other organoselenium ligands. Despite the relatively limited number of studies, these complexes exhibit diverse biological activities, including anticancer, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects. Mechanistic evidence suggests that these activities primarily arise from inhibition of thiol- and selenol-containing enzymes (e.g., thioredoxin reductase), disruption of redox homeostasis, or the induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. The synergistic interplay between gold and selenium centers is crucial for modulating these effects. This review highlights emerging trends in ligand optimization, providing a foundation for the rational design of next-generation selenium-based gold therapeutics.