Selenium nanoparticles: The in vivo oxidative stress protector against diabetic-induced osteoporosis

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) displays a wide array of oxidative stress-related side effects. Selenium has potent antioxidant properties that could counteract the adverse effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The current study evaluated the impact of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) as a potential ROS scavenger in reversing DM-induced osteoporosis of alveolar bone in diabetic rats. Methods: The study included 36 adult male albino Wistar rats randomly allocated into four groups: control, diabetic, metformin-treated, and SeNPs-treated groups. After diabetes induction in three groups, diabetic rats in the metformin treated group received 100 mg/Kg metformin, while in SeNPs treated group, they received 0.4 mg/Kg SeNPs. Systemic treatment assessment was through analysis of DM-associated blood chemistry panels. Meanwhile, the evaluation of alveolar bone quality was histological and histomorphometric. Results: SeNPs harbored antidiabetic efficiency comparable to metformin in reducing fasting blood sugar, returning to the standard level (p > 0.05). Histomorphometrically, SeNPs alleviated the mean bone resorptive area from 33.8 ± 2.9% in diabetes to 70.6 ± 2.9% (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, SeNPs restored alveolar bone density, as indicated by a log fluorescent intensity of 4.7 ± 0.01 (p > 0.05 compared to the control), after its significant deterioration following DM induction (p < 0.0001). Additionally, SeNPs reduced oxidative stress significantly to baseline levels (p > 0.05).Conclusions: SeNPs retain antidiabetic potential comparable to standard DM regimens. The oxidative stress scavenging power of SeNPs contributed to their potential to balance osteogenic homeostasis. Besides, their ROS-seizing efficiency qualified SeNPs as a conceivable anti-osteoporotic nanocandidate.