Selenium-Containing Polymers: Perspectives toward Diverse Applications in Both Adaptive and Biomedical Materials

Abstract

Selenium is a semimetallic element lying in group XVI of the periodic table with its chemical properties resembling sulfur. But owing to its relatively low electronegativity and large atomic radius compared with sulfur, selenium also shows unique properties. This feature endows selenium-containing compounds with high reactivity and sensitivity. Although organic selenium chemistry has been developing very fast, the successful introduction of selenium into polymer science is rather scarce. Fortunately, we have seen a drastic rising trend in the area of selenium-containing polymers over the past decade. In this Perspective, the synthetic routes of selenium-containing polymers are summarized, and their unique stimuli-responsive properties are elaborated on, together with their diverse applications in the field of adaptive and biomedical materials.

Diselenide–Pemetrexed Assemblies for Combined Cancer Immuno‐, Radio‐, and Chemotherapies

“…An inorganic selenium‐containing compound selenite (SeO 3 2− ) has been reported to suppress the expression of HLA‐E on cancer cells, thereby rendering them susceptible to NK cells . Since previous studies revealed that the high valence organic selenium‐containing compound seleninic acid exhibited anti‐tumour activity in a similar mechanism to that of selenite, we hypothesize that seleninic acid may also show cancer immunity through NK cell activation. In addition, diselenides have been demonstrated to be sensitive to γ‐radiation .…”

Tunable Structural Color Patterns Based on the Visible‐Light‐Responsive Dynamic Diselenide Metathesis

“…Our previous work proved that diselenide bond is a new kind of dynamic covalent bond 57. The low bond energy, which is 172 kJ mol −1 ,58 makes diselenides possible to undergo exchange under the irradiation of visible light without catalyst 59,60. Compared with other DCBs, the diselenide metathesis has a variety of advantages including rapid reaction rate, mild condition, and few by‐products 61.…”

Diselenide–Pemetrexed Assemblies for Combined Cancer Immuno‐, Radio‐, and Chemotherapies

“…[13] An inorganic selenium-containing compound selenite (SeO 3 2À ) has been reported to suppress the expression of HLA-E on cancer cells,t hereby rendering them susceptible to NK cells. [14] Since previous studies revealed that the high valence organic selenium-containing compound seleninic acid exhibited anti-tumour activity in as imilar mechanism to that of selenite, [15] we hypothesize that seleninic acid may also show cancer immunity through NK cell activation. In addition, diselenides have been demonstrated to be sensitive to gradiation.…”