Selenium-Nanoparticles-Loaded Chitosan/Chitooligosaccharide Microparticles and Their Antioxidant Potential: A Chemical and In Vivo Investigation

Abstract

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have attracted attention due to their favorable properties, unique bioactivities, and potential for use in nutritional supplements and nanomedicine applications. However, the application of SeNPs in the clinic has been greatly hindered by their poor stability, and their potential to protect against alcohol-induced oxidative stress has not been fully investigated. Herein, SeNPs were synthesized in the presence of chitosan (CS) or chitooligosaccharide (COS), and a mixture of SeNPs, CS, and COS was spray-dried to prepare selenium-nanoparticles-loaded chitosan/chitooligosaccharide microparticles (SeNPs-CS/COS-Ms). Their physicochemical properties, including morphology, elemental state, size distribution, surface potential, and characteristic structure, were investigated. The release of SeNPs from the vehicle and the free radical scavenging ability of SeNPs-CS/COS-Ms were also studied. Furthermore, the safety of SeNPs-CS/COS-Ms and their antioxidant activity against alcohol were evaluated in mice. The results indicate that SeNPs-CS/COS-Ms, with a novel structure characterized by their smooth or wrinkled surface, hollow core, and COS body filled with SeNPs-CS nanobeads, were able to release SeNPs and scavenge DPPH and superoxide anion radicals. SeNPs-CS/COS-Ms were found to be much safer than selenite, and they might protect mice from ethanol-induced oxidative stress by reducing lipid and protein oxidation and by boosting glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). In conclusion, SeNPs-CS/COS-Ms offer a new way to develop stable SeNPs with higher efficacy and better biosafety, and the antioxidant potential of SeNPs-CS/COS-Ms against ethanol deserves further development.

Antioxidant Capacity and Hepatoprotective Role of Chitosan-Stabilized Selenium Nanoparticles in Concanavalin A-Induced Liver Injury in Mice

“…As presented in Figure 6, the serum and hepatic Se levels in the Se-supplementation groups were significantly higher than those of other groups (p < 0.05), indicating that CS-SeNPs might enhance the Se stock in the animals. This is in line with the reported efficient Se-retention capacity of some SeNPs stabilized by other macro-molecules [2,3,25,40] or microorganisms [17], confirming the potential of nanoparticles in Se supplementation. Se retention by extra Se supplementation needs to be discussed.…”

“…The DPPH radical (•DPPH) and superoxide anion radical (•O 2 − ) scavenging assays were performed as previously described [25] to measure the antioxidant abilities of the tested samples. In addition, the hydroxyl radical (•OH) scavenging activity was determined according to Peralta [26], with some modification.…”

“…Oral administration of CS-SeNPs powder (0.6, 1.2, 3.6 mg/kg bw, each day) to mice for 35 days was used to simulate sub-chronic Se consumption by humans. These doses were equal to 18, 36, and 108 μg (Se)/kg bw in terms of Se dose, respectively, according to the equivalent dose conversion of mice to human (≈ 12:1) based on body surface area [25,39]. Considering the body weight of a human adult (generally 60 kg), the daily Se doses (1.5, 3, and 9 μg Se/kg bw) for humans could actually be 90, 180, and 540 μg Se per day, which meets the human requirements of adequate or super-nutritional Se [1][2][3].…”

Hypoglycemic potential of selenium nanoparticles capped with polyvinyl-pyrrolidone in streptozotocin-induced experimental diabetes in rats

“…There have been many investigations that have proven that antioxidant administration decreases augmented lipid peroxide in diabetic rats (El-Alfy et al, 2005) and hyperlipidemia and vascular damage in ApoE-knockout mice (Guo et al, 2019). Furthermore, Bai et al (2020) recently reported that SeNPs have a potent antioxidant property.…”

Selenide Chitosan Sulfate Improved The Hepatocyte Activity, Growth Performance, and Anti-Oxidation Ability by Activating The Thioredoxin Reductase of Chickens In Vitro and In Vivo

“…We observed that LS-COS-Se showed the better biological activity. But there were no significant difference in the ADFI, ADG and F/G of chickens during the experimental period of 4 weeks in vivo.COS is a positively charged alkaline antioxidant, which scavenges free radicals and promotes metabolism by absorbing all kinds of negatively charged toxic substances[21,22]. As a kind of macromolecular active substance formed by sulfation modification of polysaccharides, polysaccharide sulfate reflects its antioxidant ability by enhancing the scavenging ability of alkyl free radicals, hydroxyl radicals and superoxide anions[23][24][25].…”