Green synthesized selenium nanoparticles for ovarian cancer cell apoptosis

Over recent years, selenium nanoparticles (Se-NP) have been widely applied in nanomedicine science due to their exceptional physicochemical and biological properties. The available reports regarding the fabrication methods of these nanoparticles include several physical and chemical processes that are toxic, costly and non-environmentally. In this work, Se-NPs were synthesized through a rapid, biocompatible, safe, cost-effective and green chemistry approach that require the usage of bioactive compounds of honey. In addition, the obtained nanoparticles were characterized by UV-Vis, XRD, TEM, FESEM, EDX and FTIR analysis. The in vitro anticancer efficiency of biosynthesized Se-NPs@Honey was also examined on A2780 ovarian cancer cells, which interestingly exhibited a concentration-dependent anti-proliferative activity toward human ovarian cancer cells with the IC50 value of 60.95 mu g/mL. Furthermore, their apoptotic effects were confirmed through the means of flow cytometry analysis that was performed by an annexin V-FITC kit and the assessment of apoptosis gene expression. According to the gathered data, Se-NPs@Honey can promote oxidative damage through the generation of reactive oxygen species in A2780 cells as well. Therefore, our findings strongly suggest that green synthesized Se-NPs by the usage of honey could stand as an efficient anticancer agent in the future.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates a green chemistry approach for synthesizing selenium nanoparticles using honey, and confirms their anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects in human ovarian cancer cells.