Multi-Biofunctional Properties of Phytofabricated Selenium Nanoparticles From Carica papaya Fruit Extract: Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Antimycotoxin, Anticancer, and Biocompatibility

Abstract

The present study focused on phytofabrication of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) from Carica papaya extract and exploration of their multi-biofunctional features. Total phenolics and flavonoids of C. papaya fruit extract were determined as 23.30 ± 1.88 mg gallic acid equivalents and 19.21 ± 0.44 mg quercetin equivalents per gram, respectively, which suggested that C. papaya fruit extract could be a competitive reducing and stabilizing agent during phytofabrication of nanoparticles. UV–Vis and FTIR spectroscopy showed the formation of SeNPs from sodium selenite, which could be related to the reducing and stabilizing activities of C. papaya fruit extract. The SeNPs were found to be stable with a Zeta potential of −32 mV. The average hydrodynamic size of SeNPs was found as 159 nm by dynamic light scattering. The SeNPs showed a broader XRD pattern with no sharp Bragg’s peaks and found to be amorphous. SEM showed that SeNPs were spherical in shape and EDX pattern showed that SeNPs were made up of Se (71.81%), C (11.41%), and O (14.88%). The HR-TEM picture showed that SeNPs were spherical in morphology and have a size range of 101–137 nm. The SeNPs exhibited potent antioxidant activity and their EC50 values (effective concentration required to inhibit 50% of radicals) were 45.65 ± 2.01 and 43.06 ± 3.80 μg/ml in DPPH and ABTS assays, respectively. The antimicrobial action of SeNPs was found as a broad spectrum and suppressed microbial pathogens in ascending order: fungi > Gram-positive bacteria > Gram-negative bacteria. The SeNPs have been demonstrated to reduce the growth and ochratoxin A (OTA) of mycotoxigenic Aspergillus ochraceus and Penicillium verrucosum at 40 μg/ml in broth culture, which is noteworthy. The SeNPs reduced cancer cell proliferation (RAW 264.7, Caco-2, MCF-7, and IMR-32) more preferentially than normal cells (Vero), found to be highly biocompatible. Lower doses of SeNPs (up to 50 μg/ml) were shown to be less toxic and did not cause death in Danio rerio (zebrafish) embryos, implying that lower doses of SeNPs could be beneficial for biological purposes. The present study concluded that phytofabricated SeNPs have multiple biofunctional properties, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, antimycotoxin, and anticancer activities, as well as high biocompatibility.

Research Advances in Preparation, Stability, Application, and Possible Risks of Nanoselenium: Focus on Food and Food-Related Fields

“…The research on the nanoselenium synthesis using plant extracts is rare, because some problems still exist during the nanoselenium synthesis using plant extracts. For example, Vundela et al used Carica papaya extract to reduce sodium selenite and synthesized nanoselenium with a particle size ranging from 101 to 137 nm. As a result of its large particle size, the stability was low.…”

“…The stability of nanoselenium is closely related to the concentration, type, reducing power capacity, and application environment of reducing agents. The common nanoselenium reducing agents used in food are small-molecule peptides, amino acids, polysaccharides, organic acids, polyphenols, and flavonoids. ,− The stability of nanoselenium prepared by the reaction of the same selenium source with different reducing agents is different. Improper selection of reducing agents can lead to oxidation, flocculation, precipitation, and even failure to produce nanoselenium.…”

Biogenic Selenium Nanoparticles in Biomedical Sciences: Properties, Current Trends, Novel Opportunities and Emerging Challenges in Theranostic Nanomedicine

“…This process leads to an NP pro-oxidant behavior by free radical generation, on one side, which induces mitochondrial membrane disruption and, consequently, the leakage of mitochondrial proteins and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress on the other side [ 61 , 273 , 274 , 275 ]. Hence, several apoptotic molecular pathways which are regulated by SeNPs are activated or modulated, including TLR4/TRAF3/MFN1 (toll-like receptor-4/TNF receptor associated factor 3/mitofusin-1) [ 276 ]; p53, MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinases) and AKT (protein kinase B) [ 277 , 278 , 279 ]; Bcl-2 family proteins [ 280 ]; ROS/JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase) [ 281 ]; PI3/Akt/mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin); mTOR and NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa B) [ 282 ]; and caspase apoptotic pathways [ 268 , 280 , 283 ]. The regulation of these pathways is crucial for oncogenic signaling due to a considerable decrease in cellular proliferation and angiogenic signaling by obstructing the growth-promoting signaling in the vicinity of tumor cells.…”

Plant-derived selenium nanoparticles: investigating unique morphologies, enhancing therapeutic uses, and leading the way in tailored medical treatments

“…Thus, it may be useful for biological determinations to infer a lower dose of SeNPs. 134 Al-Otaibi et al (2022) attempted to create apigenin SeNPs (SeNPs-apigenin) using green synthesis and evaluated their anti-breast cancer activity. Multiple modified assays confirmed that SeNPs can inhibit MCF-7 cell viability and induce apoptosis in vitro .…”

“…Vundela et al (2022) tested C. papaya extract as a starting material for selenium nanoparticle (SeNP) production and analyzed the resulting SeNPs' biological effects. Here, the components of a fruit extract from C. papaya acted competitively to decrease nanoparticle size and stabilize them.…”