Potentialities of selenium nanoparticles in biomedical science

Abstract

Nanotechnology is defined as the branch of science dealing with extremely small-sized particles with a size in the range of 1–100 nm, which are termed nanoparticles. Due to the extremely small size of nanoparticles, they display unique electronic and optical properties, which differentiate them from their bulk form. Thus, due to the unique properties of nanoparticles, they play a crucial role in a variety of fields, including the biomedical, environmental, agricultural, and industrial fields. Selenium belongs to Group 16 of the periodic table with an atomic number of 34 and its nanoparticles have been highlighted as a potential material to alleviate several problems due to the formation of biofilms, production of ROS, low redox activity, etc. These nanoparticles can be synthesized through chemical, physical and biological methods. Since existing reviews mainly concentrated on the individual applications of selenium nanoparticles such as in diagnosis and therapeutics, the present review mainly highlights the potential activity of selenium nanoparticles in the biomedical domain, making them a potential theragnostic agent. Specifically, this review will present detailed information on the bioimaging and therapeutic activity, together with the role of selenium nanoparticles in the current scenario of the ongoing pandemic (SARS-CoV-2). It will also focus on procedures for their synthesis and properties that make them potential candidates for applications in various domains. Finally, we provide a detailed future outlook.