Selenium applications in medicine

Pro Research Analysisby

Searched over 200M research papers

Analyzed relevant papers

Selenium in Medicine: Essential Trace Element and Therapeutic Agent

Selenium is an essential micronutrient for human health, incorporated into selenoproteins that play a key role in maintaining physiological redox balance and protecting cells from oxidative damage Chuai2021Ferro2021Karthik2023+1 MORE. Its biological activity is crucial for immune function, antioxidant defense, and enzyme activity, but it has a narrow therapeutic window, meaning both deficiency and excess can be harmful Ferro2021Khurana2019.

Selenium Nanoparticles (SeNPs) in Biomedical Applications

Reduced Toxicity and Enhanced Biocompatibility

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have gained significant attention due to their lower toxicity and higher biocompatibility compared to traditional inorganic and organic selenium compounds Menon2018Ferro20215+3 MORE. SeNPs can be engineered for targeted drug delivery, improving the effectiveness and safety of therapies Guan2018Ferro20215+2 MORE.

Anticancer and Antioxidant Properties

SeNPs and selenium-containing compounds have shown strong anticancer activity by inducing apoptosis (programmed cell death) and arresting the cell cycle in cancer cells, while also protecting healthy cells from oxidative stress Chuai2021Menon2018Ferro2021+5 MORE. These properties make selenium-based agents promising candidates for cancer therapy and chemoprevention Guan2018Chuai2021Menon2018+5 MORE.

Broad Therapeutic Applications

Research highlights selenium’s potential in treating a wide range of diseases, including:

Cancer: SeNPs and selenium compounds inhibit tumor growth and spread Chuai2021Menon2018Ferro2021+4 MORE.
Diabetes: Selenium-based therapies help regulate blood sugar and reduce diabetes-related complications Guan20185Karthik2023+1 MORE.
Neurodegenerative Diseases: SeNPs offer neuroprotection and may help manage conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s 5Karthik2023.
Inflammatory and Oxidative Stress Disorders: Selenium’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects benefit conditions such as arthritis and nephropathy 5Devi2023Karthik2023+1 MORE.
Antimicrobial and Antiviral Effects: Selenium compounds show activity against bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites Chuai2021Devi2023Ali2020+1 MORE.

Selenium-Containing Small Molecules and Heterocycles

Incorporating selenium into small organic molecules and heterocycles enhances their pharmacological activities, including anticancer, antioxidant, antifibrolytic, antibacterial, antiviral, and central nervous system effects Chuai2021Hou2022. These selenium-containing compounds are being explored for their improved bioactivity and therapeutic potential Chuai2021Hou2022.

Drug Delivery and Targeted Therapy

Selenium-based nanomedicines, especially SeNPs, are effective carriers for delivering drugs directly to disease sites, reducing side effects and improving treatment outcomes Guan2018Ferro20215+2 MORE. Functionalization of SeNPs with targeting ligands further enhances their ability to deliver drugs specifically to tumor cells or other affected tissues Guan2018Ferro20215.

Conclusion

Selenium’s unique biological properties and its innovative applications in nanomedicine and drug delivery make it a valuable tool in modern medicine. Selenium nanoparticles and selenium-containing compounds offer promising therapeutic benefits for cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative, inflammatory, and infectious diseases, with ongoing research focused on maximizing their efficacy and safety Guan2018Chuai2021Menon2018+7 MORE.

Sources and full results

Most relevant research papers on this topic

Selenium as a pleiotropic agent for medical discovery and drug delivery

Selenium-based nanomedicines show potential in treating various diseases, particularly antitumor and antidiabetes, with potential applications in medical practice and drug delivery.

2018·

87citations

·Bao-zhang Guan et al.

International Journal of Nanomedicine·

DOI

Small molecule selenium-containing compounds: Recent development and therapeutic applications.

Small molecule selenium-containing compounds show potent anticancer, antioxidant, and central nervous system effects, warranting further study for potential therapeutic applications.

2021·

164citations

·Hongyan Chuai et al.

European journal of medicinal chemistry·

DOI

Selenium nanoparticles: A potent chemotherapeutic agent and an elucidation of its mechanism.

Selenium nanoparticles show potential as an effective, non-toxic, and biocompatible anticancer agent due to their ability to invade apoptotic pathways and block other pathways.

Literature Review

2018·

544citations

·S. Menon et al.

Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces·

DOI

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

Selenium nanoparticles show potential in biomedical applications, particularly in cancer therapy, due to their less toxic nature and ability to effectively deliver payloads to specific cells.

Literature Review

2021·

364citations

·C. Ferro et al.

Advanced Healthcare Materials·

DOI

Selenium nanoparticles: Properties, preparation methods, and therapeutic applications.

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) show potential therapeutic effects in various medical applications due to their adaptable properties and ability to carry various therapeutic substances.

2023·

91citations

Chemico-biological interactions·

DOI

Selenium nanomaterial is a promising nanotechnology for biomedical and environmental remediation: A detailed review

Selenium nanomaterials show promise for biomedical and environmental applications due to their low toxicity, biocompability, and surface modification, offering advantages in pharmacological activities and environmental remediation.

Literature Review

2023·

33citations

·M. Devi et al.

Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology·

DOI

The innovative potential of selenium-containing agents for fighting cancer and viral infections.

Selenium-containing compounds show potential as a promising treatment for viral infections and tumor development and dissemination, despite previously being considered toxic.

Literature Review

2020·

66citations

·Wesam Ali et al.

Drug discovery today·

DOI

A review on selenium nanoparticles and their biomedical applications

Selenium nanoparticles show promise in biomedical applications due to their bioactivity, decreased toxicity, precision targeting, and ability to cross cell membranes for drug administration.

2023·

151citations

·K. Karthik et al.

Biomedical Technology·

DOI

Therapeutic applications of selenium nanoparticles.

Selenium nanoparticles show potential therapeutic benefits in reducing toxicity and inflammation in various oxidative stress and inflammation-related disorders.

Rigorous Journal

2019·

683citations

·Amit Khurana et al.

Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie·

DOI

Incorporating Selenium into Heterocycles and Natural Products─From Chemical Properties to Pharmacological Activities.

Incorporating selenium into bioactive heterocycles and natural products can enhance the pharmacological activities and chemical properties of compounds, potentially benefiting various diseases.

Literature Review

2022·

212citations

·Wei Hou et al.

Journal of medicinal chemistry·

DOI

Try another search

paroxetine discontinuation strategies

basal cell carcinoma diagnosis

dietary approaches to lower blood pressure

liposomal vitamin bioavailability

vitamin b12 metabolism and regulation

types of foods and their nutritional value