A novel zein-selenium complex nanoparticle with controllable size: Quantitative design, physical properties and cytotoxicity in vitro.

In this study, after proposing a method for the preparation of selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) with stable properties using zein, the physico-chemical properties of zein-Se NPs were tested. The complex structure of zein-Se NPs was deduced by SEM, and the binding mechanism was determined by FT-IR and XPS. The particle size of zein-Se NPs could be regulated from 11.4 ± 0.1 nm to 138.7 ± 0.9 nm under different preparation parameters, the reason for the change in particle size had been speculated. The pH responsiveness and 30-day storage stability of the zein-Se NPs were discussed. The zein-Se NPs still had strong DPPH radical scavenging activity after heat treatment. The zein-Se NPs were cell-friendly and was able to effectively protect cells from H2O2-induced cell-death. This study performed an extensive determination of the underlying physico-chemical properties of zein-Se NPs, we anticipate this approach will open up new possibilities in using natural material to stabilize Se NPs.

Fabrication of food grade zein-dispersed selenium dual-nanoparticles with controllable size, cell friendliness and oral bioavailability.

In this study, novel bioavailable selenium nanoparticles with controllable particle size and low toxicity were developed. With selenium modified zein nanoparticles (zein NPs) in-situ, dispersed nano-selenium particles with different structure were formed simultaneously. The particle size, zeta potential, morphology and binding mechanism of synthesized zein-selenium nanoparticles (zein-Se NPs) were systematically discussed. Selenium was considered to be combined with OH and -CO-NH- groups of zein. The selenium in the complex particles presented an amorphous structure with zero valence. The cytotoxicity of zein-Se NPs was significantly lower than that of sodium selenite, even exhibited a growth-promoting effect on normal liver cells (L-02), and were proven to be orally absorbed by organisms in vivo experiments. The difference in particle structure had certain effects on cytotoxicity and oral targeting. The complex particles obtained by this method were anticipated be further used as food fortifiers or medicines.

Development, characterization and in vitro bile salts binding capacity of selenium nanoparticles stabilized by soybean polypeptides.

The paper presents the positive effect of soybean polypeptides (SP) on the stability and the potential hypolipidemic effect of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs). After preparing SeNPs, SP with different molecular weight were introduced to stabilize SeNPs. We found that the SP with molecular weight >10 kDa (SP5) had the best stabilizing effect on SeNPs. We inferred that the steric resistance resulting from the long chains of SP5 protected SeNPs from collision-mediated aggregation, and the electrostatic repulsions between SP5 and SeNPs also played a positive role in stabilizing SeNPs. The as-prepared SP5-SeNPs were spherical, amorphous and zero valent. It was proved that SeNPs were bound with SP5 through O- and N- groups in SP5, and the main forces were hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces. The bile salts binding assay showed that the SP5-SeNPs exhibited a high binding capacity to bile salts, which indicated their potential in hypolipidemic application.

Development, physicochemical characterization and cytotoxicity of selenium nanoparticles stabilized by beta-lactoglobulin.

Novel Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) were developed using beta-lactoglobulin (Blg) as a stabilizer in redox systems of selenite and ascorbic acid in this study. Particle size, morphology, stability, and in vitro biological activity of synthesized Blg stabilized selenium nanoparticles (Blg-SeNPs) were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV/Vis), and cell toxicity assays, respectively. Stabilizing mechanisms of Blg-SeNPs were investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and protein fluorescence probe. The results revealed that the Blg-SeNPs were spherical with mean particle size of 36.8±4.1nm. They were stable in acidic or neutral to basic solutions (pH 2.5-3.5 or 6.5-8.5) at 4°C for 30days as a result of electrostatic repulsions. FTIR results showed that functional groups of NH2 and OH on Blg molecules were responsible for binding with SeNPs. Furthermore, decreases in protein surface hydrophobicity indicated that possible binding happened between Se and the hydrophobic domains of Blg. The cell toxicity of Blg-SeNPs was significantly lower than that of sodium selenite on both cancerous and non-cancerous cells. This study provides a facile and green method for chemically synthesizing stable SeNPs which are suitable for further evaluation in medicinal applications.