Breakthrough in Nanoparticle Research: Enhanced Antioxidant Activity and Selenium Release

Researchers from Yangzhou University in China have made a significant discovery in the field of nanotechnology, developing a novel selenium nanoparticle with exceptional antioxidant activity and potential applications in food and health products. The study employed a redox reaction to synthesize selenium nanoparticles stabilized by Grifola frondosa polysaccharides and gallic acid conjugates. The resulting nanoparticles demonstrated enhanced antioxidant capacity, scavenging free radicals and reducing oxidative stress, and showed a stronger selenium release capacity compared to traditional nanoparticles.

Key Takeaways:

• The researchers synthesized selenium nanoparticles using a redox reaction involving sodium selenite and ascorbic acid, stabilizing them with Grifola frondosa polysaccharides and gallic acid conjugates.
• The antioxidant capacity of the nanoparticles was significantly enhanced, with IC values for scavenging DPPH, superoxide anion, and hydroxyl radical of 0.45, 0.55, and 0.63 mg/mL, respectively.
• The nanoparticles demonstrated a two-stage release pattern in in vitro digestion and had a stronger selenium release capacity compared to traditional nanoparticles.
• At the cellular level, the nanoparticles reduced oxidative stress and apoptosis, increased mitochondrial membrane potential, and up-regulated the expression of Nrf2 protein.
• The study has potential applications in food and health products, leveraging the enhanced antioxidant activity and selenium release capacity of the nanoparticles.

Statistics:

• IC values for scavenging DPPH, superoxide anion, and hydroxyl radical were 0.45, 0.55, and 0.63 mg/mL, respectively.
• The nanoparticles showed a two-stage release pattern in in vitro digestion.
• The selenium release capacity of the nanoparticles was significantly enhanced compared to traditional nanoparticles.
• 10 authors contributed to the research: Jialuo Tang, Chaoting Wen, Dongming Liu, Meidi Fan, Xinying Lin, Guoyan Liu, Li Liang, Xiaofang Liu, Jixian Zhang, and Xin Xu.

Sources:

• "Selenium release during the simulated gastrointestinal digestion and antioxidant activity of selenium nanoparticles stabilized by Grifola frondosa polysaccharides and gallic acid conjugates." International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2025:144620.
• Yangzhou University.