title: Acute and subacute toxicity of novel biogenic selenium nanoparticles in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the present investigation, acute and subacute toxicity of the biogenic Se nanoparticles (Se NPs) has been reported.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the Se NPs produced by a bacterium species and to evaluate their toxicity and impact on clinical chemistry and hematological parameters of NMRI mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Se NPs were prepared by Bacillus sp. MSh-1 in a culture medium containing SeO(2) (1.26 mM) and their physiochemical properties investigated using TEM, XRD and FT-IR. The LD(50) of Se NPs and SeO(2) were determined and the subacute toxicity evaluated by orally administration of 0, 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 mg kg(-1) of Se NPs to male mice for 14 consecutive days. Parameters of blood cells, AST, ALT, ALP, creatinine, BUN, cholesterol, bilirubin, triglyceride and CPK were experimentally measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The XRD and TEM analyses showed that the spherical NPs were amorphous, in the size range of 80-220 nm. The toxicological evaluation showed that the LD(50) values of SeO(2) and Se NPs were 7.3 and 198.1 mg kg(-1), respectively. No biochemical changes were observed from the administration of 2.5, 5 and 10 mg kg(-1) of Se NPs, but a dose of 20 mg kg(-1) was accompanied with signs of toxicity including lower body weight and changes in clinical chemistry and hematological parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The biogenic Se NPs were less toxic than synthetic Se NPs and much less (26-fold) toxic than the SeO(2), which demonstrates the important role of Bacillus sp. MSh-1 in conversion of a highly toxic Se compound to the less toxic Se NPs.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutics Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Mojtaba
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shakibaie
authors.forename: Ahmad Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Shahverdi
authors.forename: Mohammad Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Faramarzi
authors.forename: Gholam Reza
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Hassanzadeh
authors.forename: Hamid Reza
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Rahimi
authors.forename: Omid
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sabzevari
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001407:Bacillus / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D053758:Nanoparticles; D010316:Particle Size; D012643:Selenium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D018036:Selenium Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D064588:Selenium Oxides; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute; D059551:Toxicity Tests, Subacute
chemical_list: D018036:Selenium Compounds; D064588:Selenium Oxides; D012643:Selenium