Radiation Synthesis of Selenium Nanoparticles Capped with β-Glucan and Its Immunostimulant Activity in Cytoxan-Induced Immunosuppressed Mice

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) with diameters from 64.8 to 110.1 nm were successfully synthesized by gamma-irradiation of solutions containing Se4+ and water-soluble yeast beta-glucan. The size and size distribution of SeNPs were analyzed by dynamic light scattering (DLS). Analytical X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern results confirmed the crystal structure of the Se nanoparticles and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed that beta-glucan could interact with SeNPs through steric (Se horizontal ellipsis O) linkages leading to a homogeneous and translucent solution state for 60 days without any precipitates. In vivo tests in cytoxan-induced immunosuppressed mice revealed that the daily supplementation of SeNPs/beta-glucan at concentrations of 6 mg per kg body weight of tested mice significantly stimulated the generation of cellular immune factors (white blood cells, neutrophil, lymphocyte, B cells, CD4+ cells, CD34+ cells and natural killer cells) and humoral immune indexes (IgM, IgG, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma and IL-2) in peripheral blood, bone marrow and spleen of the immunosuppressed mice. The obtained results indicated that radiation-synthesized SeNPs/beta-glucan may be a candidate for further evaluation as an agent for the prevention of immunosuppression in chemotherapy.

Automated summary

The study successfully synthesized selenium nanoparticles with diameters ranging from 64.8 to 110.1 nm, which were found to stimulate the generation of cellular and humoral immune factors in immunosuppressed mice. Radiation-synthesized SeNPs/beta-glucan may be a candidate for further evaluation as an agent for the prevention of immunosuppression in chemotherapy.