Selenium Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications: From Development and Characterization to Therapeutics

Selenium (Se) is an essential element to human health that can be obtained in nature through several sources. In the body, it incorporated into selenocysteine, amino acid used synthesize selenoproteins, which have active center usually dependent on presence of Se. Although Se shows beneficial properties health, has also a narrow therapeutic window, and therefore excessive intake inorganic organic Se-based compounds often leads toxicity. Nanoparticles based (SeNPs) are less toxic than They both biocompatible capable effectively delivering combinations payloads specific cells following their functionalization with targeting ligands. Herein, main origin intake, its role primary biomedical applications revised. Particular focus will given targets explored for SeNPs cancer therapies, discussing different methodologies improve stability, while enabling extensive delivery drug-loaded SeNP tumor sites, thus avoiding off-target effects.