Preparation, characterization, and induced human colon cancer HCT-116 and HT-29 cell apoptosis performance of selenium nanoparticles stabilized by longan polysaccharides

The combination of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) with natural polysaccharides represents an effective strategy to address the limitations of SeNPs and providing a stable, highly bioactive form of Se. In this study, we explored the potential of longan polysaccharides (LP) in the preparation and stabilization of SeNPs. The morphology, stability, stabilization mechanism, and cytotoxicity of LP-SeNPs were investigated. The results showed that the LP-SeNPs were uniform spherical nanoparticles with a mean particle size of 100.4 ± 1.1 nm, and demonstrated excellent stability over a 14-day storage period, which was attributed to the interaction between the SeNPs and the hydroxyl groups present on the surface of LP. Meanwhile, LP-SeNPs have no toxic effect on rat intestinal epithelial (IEC-6) cells, while they are cytotoxic to human colon cancer (HCT-116 and HT-29) cells, including growth inhibition, morphological alteration, and the promotion of reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial membrane potential loss in a dose-dependent manner. LP-SeNPs induced apoptosis in HCT-116 and HT-29 cells by regulation of the apoptosis-related proteins including Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3, and cytochrome c . Therefore, our results provide a theoretical basis for the development and application of LP and indicate the potential promise of LP-SeNPs as dietary Se supplements and health-promoting food ingredients.