Selenium in nanoform: toxicity and safety

Abstract

The review is devoted to the toxicity and safety of nanosized forms of selenium. It is shown that in nature selenium exists mainly in the form of selenate (Se6+), selenite (Se4+), selenide (Se2–) and elemental selenium (Se0), while the latter is insoluble in aqueous media, less toxic and biologically inert. In the form of nanosized particles, elemental selenium is not only biocompatible, but also has antitumor and antimicrobial activity.It has been shown that elemental selenium in the form of nanoparticles can modulate the activity of the antioxidant and detoxification systems. A dose-dependent effect of selenium in nanosized form has been demonstrated. It has been shown that at high concentrations (above 2 mg Se per kg of animal weight) selenium nanoparticles can cause the development of selenium-induced toxicity in mammals.It has been shown that elemental selenium in the form of nanoparticles can affect immunoregulation, reproductive function, kidney and liver function, modulate the activity of the antioxidant and detoxification systems, and in high concentrations (above 2 mg Se per kg of animal weight) cause the development of selenium-induced toxicity both in mammals and fish. At the same time, for fish, it was shown that selenium nanoparticles are more toxic than inorganic selenium and cause a more acute reaction of the body to exposure to even low concentrations, possibly associated with hyperaccumulation of selenium in tissues, which once again reminds us of the need to take into account the problems of ecotoxicity of selenium nanocomposites.

Keywords

• наночастицы селена, токсичность, экотоксичность