Synthesis, stability, and anti-inflammatory activity of selenium nanoparticles stabilized by lotus root polysaccharide

In this study, selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) decorated with lotus root polysaccharide (LR) were successfully synthesized, and the formation, particle size, morphology and stabilization of LR/SeNPs1-5 with different Se content were comprehensively characterized. The findings revealed that LR/SeNPs exhibited uniformly spherical nanoparticles with particle size of approximately 100 nm. FT-IR and XPS spectra showed that the stability of LR/SeNPs was attributed to the formation of C-O⋯Se coordination bonds and hydrogen bond networks between LR and SeNPs. And the environmental stability experiment has proved that LR/SeNPs3 exhibit excellent stability in normal temperature, neutral and low-salt environments, howerer, to maintain long-term stability, it is necessary to avoid from high temperatures, high acidity and high salt environments. Also, the modification of the SeNPs with LR granted the LR/SeNPs excellent anti-inflammatory capability, that decreased the level of NO, IL-1β and TNF-α, and promoted macrophage toward the M2 phenotype polarization, during which LR showed a synergistic effect. These results suggest that LR can not only enhance the stability of SeNPs, but also improve the anti-inflammatory activity of SeNPs, thereby functioning as a promising stabilizing agent for SeNPs.