Construction of arabinogalactans/selenium nanoparticles composites for enhancement of the antitumor activity

• Published in: International journal of biological macromolecules 2019-05, Vol.128, p.444-451
• Main Authors: Tang, Shuo, Wang, Ting, Jiang, Meiyun, Huang, Caoxing, Lai, Chenhuan, Fan, Yimin, Yong, Qiang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anticancer; Arabinogalactan; Selenium nanoparticle
• ISSN: 0141-8130; 1879-0003
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.01.152

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) were synthesized using arabinogalactans (LAG) as a formation scaffolding and particle stabilizer to investigate their anti-tumor properties. The formation, morphology, size, and in vitro biological activity of LAG-SeNPs were characterized by UV–vis, FT-IR, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and cell toxicity assays. SEM and TEM of LAG-SeNPs visualized the individual spherical nanoparticles, while the spectroscopic characterization revealed the modes of interaction which lead to the stable particle properties of the LAG-SeNPs. Cell toxicity assays indicated that the products had significant inhibitory effect on A549, HepG-2 and MCF-7 cells with a dose-dependent effect. The toxicity mechanisms of LAG-SeNPs were further investigated, and assay results revealed that LAG-SeNPs mainly induced cancer cellular apoptosis to promote atrophy and inhibit cell proliferation. The sum of these findings demonstrates the positive effects that a biomass-derived polysaccharide exert upon non-metal/metalloid-based nanoparticles and the ensuing material's viability as treatment against human cancers. •LAG-SeNPs with different size were constructed.•LAG-SeNPs were uniform spherical shape and narrow diameter distribution.•LAG-SeNPs possessed significant antitumor activities in vitro.•LAG-SeNPs induced apoptosis to inhibit cancer cell proliferation.