In vitro and in vivo toxicity assessment of selenium nanoparticles with significant larvicidal and bacteriostatic properties

In the present study, we investigated the larvicidal and bacteriostatic activity of biosynthesized selenium nanoparticles using aqueous berry extract of Murraya koenigii (Mk-Se NPs). The synthesized Mk-Se NPs were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. XRD analysis revealed the crystalline nature of Mk-Se NPs as hexagonal. The FTIR spectra of Mk-Se NPs exhibited a strong peak at 3441 cm(-1) corresponding to the O-H group. SEM and TEM analysis showed that the Mk-Se NPs were spherical in shape with a size between 50 and 150 nm. EDX peaks confirm the presence of 73.38% of selenium and 26.62% of oxide in Mk-Se NPs. Mk-Se NPs showed significant larvicidal property against the 4th instar larvae of a dengue fever-causing vector Aedes aegypti with LC50- - 3.54 mu g mL(-1) and LC90- - 8.128 mu g mL(-1) values. Mk-Se NPs displayed anti-bacterial activity against Gram-positive (Enterococcus faecalis & Streptococcus mutans) and Gram-negative (Shigella sonnei & Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria at 40 and 50 mu g mL(-1). In addition, Mk-Se NPs reduced bacterial biofilm thickness extensively at 25 mu g mL(-1). The high antioxidant property at 50 mu g mL(-1) and low hemolysis activity till 100 mu g mL(-1) proved the biocompatible nature of Mk-Se NPs. In vitro and in vivo toxicity assessment of Mk-Se NPs showed low cytotoxicity against RAW 264.7 macrophages and Artemia nauplii. Together, our results suggest the potential application of Mk-Se NPs as a nano-biomedicine.