Preparation and antioxidant properties of selenium nanoparticles-loaded chitosan microspheres

Preparation and antioxidant properties of selenium nanoparticles-loaded chitosan microspheres Kaikai Bai,1,2 Bihong Hong,1,2 Jianlin He,1,2 Zhuan Hong,1,2 Ran Tan1,2 1Third Institute of Oceanography, 2Engineering Research Center of Marine Biological Resource, Comprehensive Utilization, State Oceanic Administration, Xiamen, People's Republic of China Abstract: Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs), as a special form of selenium (Se) supplement, have attracted worldwide attention due to their favorable properties and unique bioactivities. Herein, an eco-friendly and economic way to prepare stable SeNPs is introduced. SeNPs were synthesized in aqueous chitosan (CTS) and then embedded into CTS microspheres by spray-drying, forming selenium nanoparticles-loaded chitosan microspheres (SeNPs-M). The physicochemical properties including morphology, elemental state, size distribution and surface potential were investigated. Institute of Cancer Research mice were used as model animal to evaluate the bioactivities of SeNPs-M. Trigonal-phase SeNPs of ~35 nm were synthesized, and SeNPs-M physically embedding those SeNPs were successfully prepared. Amazingly, acute toxicity test indicated that SeNPs-M were much safer than selenite in terms of Se dose, with a LD50 of around 18-fold of that of selenite. In addition, SeNPs-M possessed powerful antioxidant activities, as evidenced by a dramatic increase of both Se retention and the levels of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase. The design of SeNPs-M can offer a new way for further development of SeNPs with a higher efficacy and better biosafety. Thus, SeNPs-M may be a potential candidate for further evaluation as an Se supplement with antioxidant properties and be used against Se deficiency in animals and human beings. Keywords: selenium, nano, microsphere, chitosan, antioxidant