Preparation, physicochemical characterization, and cytotoxicity of selenium nanoparticles stabilized by Oudemansiella raphanipies polysaccharide

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have attracted substantial attention recently owing to their excellent bioavailability and low toxicity. In the present study, Oudemansiella raphanipies polysaccharide (ORPS)-decorated selenium nanoparticles (ORPS-SeNPs) were synthesized, and their physicochemical, storage stability, and antiproliferative activities were assessed by cell cytotoxicity and apoptosis experiments. The results revealed that orange–red, zero-valent, amorphous and spherical SeNPs with a mean diameter of approximately 60 nm were successfully prepared by using ORPS as a capping agent. Furthermore, the ORPS-SeNPs solution stored at 4 °C in the dark was stable for at least 90 days. Moreover, ORPS-SeNPs treatment inhibited the proliferation of four cancer cell lines in a dose-dependent manner, while no significant cytotoxicity towards human mesangial cell (HMC) cell lines was observed. Compared with their sensitivities to the other cancer cell lines (SGC-7901 and HT-29), the sensitivity of ORPS-SeNPs towards 786-O cells was higher, with an IC50 value of 18.88 ± 1.52 mg/L. Furthermore, the apoptotic pathway triggered by ORPS-SeNPs in 786-O cells was determined to be induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) imbalance and mitochondria-mediated pathways and to eventually result in cellular oxidative stress damage. The results of this study suggest that ORPS-SeNPs can be developed as a potential treatment for cancer, especially human renal carcinoma.