Green Synthesis of Selenium Nanoparticles Using Luffa cylindrica and its Biocompatibility Studies for Potential Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs), due to their unique properties, have attracted researchers’ attention. Though SeNPs have been used for wide applications, the chemically synthesized one lacks stability due to aggregation, and it releases toxic byproducts. These drawbacks can be overcome by producing SeNPs using natural sources as reducing and capping agents. Luffa cylindrica is an immense source of phytochemical compounds reported for its potential therapeutical value towards cancer, asthma, and sinusitis. In the current study, we have synthesized SeNPs using leaf extract of L. cylindrica and evaluated its biocompatibility and haemocompatibility using peripheral blood mononuclear cells and erythrocytes respectively. The formation of SeNPs was confirmed by a color change from greenish yellow to ruby red during 6 h incubation at 40[Formula: see text]C and further confirmed by the maximum absorbance at 266[Formula: see text]nm and 380[Formula: see text]nm in the UV–Vis spectrum. The fingerprint regions of the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy spectrum between 1500[Formula: see text]cm[Formula: see text] and 500[Formula: see text]cm[Formula: see text] revealed the presence of phytoconstituents of L. cylindrica. The particle size analysis showed a size range of 100[Formula: see text]nm and zeta potential of −13.6 mV. Scanning electron micrograph showed flower-shaped surface morphology with a size range of 100[Formula: see text]nm. The erythrocytes treated with higher concentrations of LC-SeNPs showed less than 5% lysis compared to the positive control. Similarly, in the apoptosis assay, 80.45% of cells remained viable after being treated with LC-SeNPs, which is comparable with that of untreated control. Since the synthesized SeNPs possess biocompatibility and are less cytotoxic, they could be used in cardiac tissue engineering applications. However, further in vitro and in vivo studies are required to confirm its role in cardiac tissue engineering.