title: Selenium nanoparticles fabricated in Undaria pinnatifida polysaccharide solutions induce mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in A375 human melanoma cells.
abstract: Selenium nanoparticle (Nano-Se) is a novel Se species with novel biological activities and low toxicity. In the present study, we demonstrated a simple method for synthesis of size-controlled Nano-Se by adding Undaria pinnatifida polysaccharides to the redox system of selenite and ascorbic acid. A panel of four human cancer cell lines was shown to be susceptible to Nano-Se, with IC(50) values ranging from 3.0 to 14.1 microM. Treatment of A375 human melanoma cells with the Nano-Se resulted in dose-dependent cell apoptosis as indicated by DNA fragmentation and phosphatidylserine translocation. Further investigation on intracellular mechanisms found that Nano-Se treatment triggered apoptotic cell death in A375 cells with the involvement of oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Our results suggest that Nano-Se may be a candidate for further evaluation as a chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agent for human cancers, especially melanoma cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Tianfeng
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yum-Shing
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Wenjie
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry; D012643:Selenium / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D044648:Undaria / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011134:Polysaccharides; D012643:Selenium