Research progress on synthesis, safety, function and mechanism of selenium nanoparticles / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

As an essential trace element, selenium plays a very important role in antioxidation and maintaining redox homeostasis in various metabolic processes. With the development of nano-technology, selenium nanoparticles ( SeNPs) have become potential biomedical drugs because of their low toxicity, degrad-ability and high bioavailability. With the ability to activate apop-tosis or autophagy by regulating the production of reactive oxygen species ( ROS) , SeNPs are widely used in anticancer therapy and pathogens killing/clearance. In addition, with excellent stability and drug encapsulation capacity, SeNPs are serving as a kind of effective nano-carriers for anti-cancer and anti-infection treatments. Interestingly, the important role of SeNPs in immune regulation ( such as the activation of macrophages and T effector cells) provides a new possibilities to achieve nano-immune syn-ergetic treatment strategy for anti-cancer and anti-infection thera¬pies. In this paper, we review the latest progress of the prepara¬tion methods and safety for SeNPs, followed by the advances of anti-infection, anti-cancer effects and its mechanisms, which would be helpful for promoting the pace of clinical research and application. In addition, we also summarize the functions of SeNPs in other aspects, so as to provide beneficial assistance for facilitating its scientific and clinical research.