ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Preparation, characterization, antioxidant, and cytotoxicity of selenium nanoparticles containing metformin (MTF@Se NPs)

Mojtaba Shakibaie, Pourya Heydari-Moghadam, Soudabe Riahi-Madvar, Mahboubeh Adeli-Sardou, Farzaneh Jabari-Morouei, and Hamid Forootanfar

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cosmetic Products Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

E-mail: m_adeli622002@yahoo.com

Received: 7 May 2024  Accepted: 4 January 2025

Abstract:

Selenium nanoparticles containing metformin (MTF@Se NPs) were synthesized in this study by subjecting a mixture of selenium dioxide and sodium borohydride solution to microwave irradiation in the presence of metformin. The physicochemical properties of the prepared nanoparticles were analyzed using various techniques, including UV–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction analyses. The nanoparticles were then evaluated for their antioxidant potential, hemocompatibility, and cytotoxic effects. The study revealed that spherical MTF@Se NPs have a size range of 32.3–74.4 nm. Furthermore, the DPPH scavenging and iron-reducing assays demonstrated that MTF@Se NPs exhibited significantly higher antioxidant activity than Se NPs (80–1280 µg/mL). Additionally, the study found that MTF@Se NPs and Se NPs were compatible materials that did not induce significant hemolysis in red blood cells. The necessary concentration for the death of half of the cells (IC₅₀) for A549 cells treated with MTF@Se NPs, Se NPs, cisplatin, and metformin was measured to be ˃ 1280 µg/mL, ˃ 1280 µg/mL, 11.74 ± 1 µg/mL, and more than 1280 µg/mL, respectively. MTF@Se NPs demonstrated significantly higher cytotoxic effects on A549 cells at concentrations of 640 µg/mL and 1280 µg/mL compared to Se NPs and metformin (p < 0.05) after 24 and 48 h of treatment. While the study’s findings provide valuable insights into the cytotoxic and antioxidant properties of MTF@Se NPs, additional investigation is necessary to fully understand these nanoparticles’ underlying biological mechanisms and potential applications.

Graphical abstract

Keywords: Nanomaterial; Nanomedicine and Nanotoxicology; Nanoparticle Synthesis; Nanoparticles; Selenium-binding proteins; Cell-nanoparticle Interaction; Selenium nanoparticles containing metformin; Microwave irradiation; Antioxidant; Hemolysis; Cytotoxicity

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-025-04099-0

Chemical Papers 79 (7) 4781–4794 (2025)