Selenium Nanoparticles Induce Cytotoxicity and Apoptosis in Human Breast Cancer (MCF-7) and Liver (HepG2) Cell Lines

This investigation was designed to assess the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of selenium nanoparticles. It explored the cytotoxic effects of selenium nanoparticles in MCF-7 and HepG2 cell lines. The morphology of selenium nanoparticles was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to verify their size and crystalline properties. The selenium nanoparticles were almost spherical and cubic in shape and in size (∼20 nm). Selenium nanoparticles were tested for their cytotoxic activity in MCF-7 and HepG2 cell lines using MTT and NRU assays. We found relative differences in the vulnerability of both cell lines in their response to selenium nanoparticle-induced cytotoxicity. Specifically, MCF-7 cells exhibited greater vulnerability to exposure to selenium nanoparticles than HepG2 cells. Selenium nanoparticles exposure also induced higher mRNA levels of apoptosis related genes and caspase-3 enzyme activity. Overall, the present study provided the evidence of cytotoxicity induced by SeNPs via apoptotic gene expression in human cell lines. These results warrant further investigation into more precise mechanism(s) of selenium nanoparticles-induced cell death in in vivo model systems.