Bismuth Selenide Nanoparticles Show Promise in Cancer Therapy

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Researchers at the Poznan University of Technology have made a breakthrough discovery in the field of cancer treatment, finding that bismuth selenide (BiSe) nanoparticles can be effective in targeting and killing cancer cells, with the potential to be developed into a new therapy for cancer treatment. According to the study, the nanoparticles were found to have a crystallite size of approximately 15 nm and were highly cytotoxic, with significant reductions in cell viability observed in both tongue cancer cells and gingival fibroblasts. The study's findings suggest that the reduced crystallite grain size enhances cytotoxicity, likely due to increased nanoparticle-cell interaction and mitochondrial disruption.

Key Takeaways:

  • Bismuth selenide nanoparticles were found to be highly cytotoxic, with significant reductions in cell viability observed in both tongue cancer cells and gingival fibroblasts.
  • The study's findings suggest that the reduced crystallite grain size enhances cytotoxicity, likely due to increased nanoparticle-cell interaction and mitochondrial disruption.
  • The average NP (powder grain) size and crystallite grain size were determined using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) techniques.
  • The crystallite structure of the prepared material was confirmed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, revealing a hexagonal structure with space group R-3 m.
  • The study examined the cytotoxicity and mitochondrial impact of BiSe NPs in two different cell types, with the results indicating varied vulnerability to mitochondrial toxicity.
  • The findings emphasize the critical role of NP size and crystallite size, and their cell-selective interactions in developing targeted and safe BiSe-based therapies for cancer treatment.
  • The research was conducted by a team of researchers from the Poznan University of Technology, led by Mahreen Akhtar, and published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Statistics:

  • 15 nm: the approximate crystallite size of the prepared BiSe nanoparticles.
  • 24 h: the duration of exposure to the nanoparticles before significant reductions in cell viability were observed.
  • 1023: the page number of the news article published in Nanotechnology Weekly.

Sources:

  • Influence of bismuth selenide nanoparticles on cell mitochondrial activity: implications for cancer therapy. Scientific Reports, 2025;15(1):21741.
  • NewsRx. Poznan University of Technology Reports Findings in Cancer (Influence of bismuth selenide nanoparticles on cell mitochondrial activity: implications for cancer therapy). Nanotechnology Weekly. July 14, 2025; p 1023.
  • Nature Portfolio. Heidelberger Platz 3, Berlin, 14197, Germany.