Recent Progress in the Green Synthesis, Characterization, and Applications of Selenium Nanoparticles

Abstract Selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs) have attracted researchers’ attention because of their unique attributes and potential for application in diverse areas, such as biological medicine, environmental remediation, and energy generation. This review summarizes recent progress in the green synthesis and characterization of Se-NPs. It elaborates on the fabrication of Se-NPs through chemical, biological, and physical techniques, including advantages and challenges. Moreover, techniques for evaluating the chemical and physical characteristics of NPs are described. The promising applications of Se-NPs are emphasized, including antioxidant, anticancer, and antimicrobial applications, and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Because of their exceptional properties and biocompatibility, Se-NPs are used in diverse industries. Recently, plant-extract synthesized Se-NPs have become increasingly used because of their benefits over chemically synthesized Se-NPs, including lower cost and greater environmental friendliness.