title: Tracing Tellurium and Its Nanostructures in Biology.
abstract: Tellurium (Te) is a semimetal rare element in nature. Together with oxygen, sulfur (S), and selenium (Se), Te is considered a member of chalcogen group. Over recent decades, Te applications continued to emerge in different fields including metallurgy, glass industry, electronics, and applied chemical industries. Along these lines, Te has recently attracted research attention in various fields. Though Te exists in biologic organisms such as microbes, yeast, and human body, its importance and role and some of its potential implications have long been ignored. Some promising applications of Te using its inorganic and organic derivatives including novel Te nanostructures are being introduced. Before discovery and straightforward availability of antibiotics, Te had considered and had been used as an antibacterial element. Antilishmaniasis, antiinflammatory, antiatherosclerotic, and immuno-modulating properties of Te have been described for many years, while the innovative applications of Te have started to emerge along with nanotechnological advances over the recent years. Te quantum dots (QDs) and related nanostructures have proposed novel applications in the biological detection systems such as biosensors. In addition, Te nanostructures are used in labeling, imaging, and targeted drug delivery systems and are tested for antibacterial or antifungal properties. In addition, Te nanoparticles show novel lipid-lowering, antioxidant, and free radical scavenging properties. This review presents an overview on the novel forms of Te, their potential applications, as well as related toxicity profiles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Lane 29, Ghasrdasht Street, Shiraz, 187918989, Iran. Zare_b@sums.ac.ir.|Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Zare_b@sums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Bijan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zare
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Lane 29, Gasrdasht Street, Shiraz, 187918989, Iran.|Shiraz Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Lane 29, Gasrdasht Street, Shiraz, 187918989, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nami
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Recombinant Vaccine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Enghelab Avenue, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad-Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Shahverdi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001695:Biology / Q000266:history*; D055808:Drug Discovery / Q000266:history* / Q000639:trends; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008829:Microbiology / Q000266:history; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000266:history / Q000639:trends; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013691:Tellurium / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D015507:Drugs, Investigational; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D013691:Tellurium
keywords: Biology; Medicine; Nanostructure; Quantum dots; Tellurium; Toxicity