Selenium nanoparticles conjugated with Scutellaris barbata D. Don polysaccharides: Synthesis, optimization, structural characterization and evaluation of anti-hepatoma activity in vitro and in vivo

Scutellaria barbata D. Don polysaccharide (SBP), a bioactive herbal component with well-documented antitumor properties, was conjugated with selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs), which are recognized for their high bioavailability and low toxicity. In this study, SBP was conjugated with SeNPs to synthesize SBP selenium nanoparticles (SBP-Se), and response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize the synthesis conditions of SBP-Se. The structural properties of SBP-Se were characterized by multiple analytical techniques, and its anti-hepatoma activity was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. The results demonstrated that SBP is primarily bound to SeNPs through the adsorption of phenolic hydroxyl groups, forming stable SBP-Se containing elemental selenium. Cell-based assays revealed that SBP-Se exhibited significantly enhanced antiproliferative effects against HepG2 cells than SBP or SeNPs alone. In a BALB/c mouse model, SBP-Se significantly inhibited HepG2 cell proliferation and migration. Furthermore, SBP-Se was found to inhibit mTOR-PI3K-Akt-mediated proliferation in HepG2 cells. These findings suggest that SBP-Se is a promising candidate for the development of antitumor pharmaceuticals, providing a theoretical foundation for the design of novel selenium-based structures and elucidating their anti-liver cancer mechanisms.