Publisher: College of Chemistry and Materials Science  

Date: December 3, 2024

Selenium is a vital trace element that plays an essential role in human growth, development, and disease prevention, particularly concerning tumors. Despite numerous studies indicating its efficacy in inhibiting tumor growth, the precise mechanisms by which selenium exerts its anticancer effects remain unclear. 

A research team led by Professor Chen Caifeng from the School of Chemistry and Materials Science at Jinan University has made significant strides in elucidating the chemical structure of nano selenium and its interactions within biological systems. Their latest study, published in the prestigious journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition, reveals crucial insights into how the chemical properties of nano selenium influence its tumor selectivity.

 Key Findings:

The team engineered selenium nanoclusters (SeClus) with deliberately designed Se−Se and Se−S bonds, creating structures responsive to the cellular redox environment. Their research found that the chemical structure and metabolism of these nanoclusters contribute significantly to their therapeutic efficacy:

- Synthesis and Analysis: The team's chemical structure analysis revealed that the bonding of sulfur atoms to neighboring selenium atoms within the Se rings is crucial for forming these nanoclusters. This bonding is driven by the cellular redox environment.

- Selectivity Mechanism: In normal cells, SeClus predominantly convert to selenocysteine, promoting the synthesis of selenium-containing proteins that support cell health. Conversely, in cancer cells, the oxidative redox state leads to the metabolism of SeClus into cytotoxic selenite (SeO3^2−), resulting in significant inhibition of cancer cell proliferation while maintaining safety for normal cells.

- Impact: The findings not only clarify the structure-function relationship of selenium nanoclusters but also elucidate their mechanisms of selectivity toward tumor cells, underscoring their potential as effective and safe antitumor agents.

This research received support from multiple initiatives, including the National Key Research and Development Program, the National Natural Science Foundation, the National Outstanding Youth Fund, and the Guangdong Provincial Natural Science Foundation.

For more details, you can access the full paper here: [Intracellular Redox Environment Determining Cancer Normal Cell Selectivity of Selenium Nanoclusters] (https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202416006).

This study stands out as a significant step forward in nano-selenium research and its applications in cancer therapy, demonstrating the potential of tailored nanomaterials to enhance therapeutic efficacy while minimizing toxicity.