Recent advancements in selenium nanoconstructs as a potential carrier in cancer therapy

Cancer cells require energy to carry out essential tasks, grow, and survive, like all other body cells. The pathophysiological process of cancer is a complex one. The cytotoxicity, lack of selectivity, generation of multidrug resistance, and proliferation of stem-like cells are some of the issues facing current chemotherapy. To this end, nanoconstructs with unique inherent properties, including optical, magnetic, and electrical, with a desired nano range (<100 nm), have shown remarkable applications. There are numerous significant categories into which nanomaterials employed in cancer therapy can be divided. These nanomaterials, which target the immune system, tumour microenvironment, and cancer cells, have been modified for various cancer therapies to improve drug capacity and bioavailability, reduce toxicity, and improve specificity. The distinct bioactivities of inorganic metallic NPs include silver (Ag), gold (Au), cerium (Ce), iron (Fe), selenium (Se), titanium (Ti), platinum (Pt) and zinc (Zn), giving them a prominent position among other NPs. Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs), particularly, have garnered attention due to their unique pharmacological properties. As an essential trace element, Se forms the active site in selenoproteins like selenocysteine (Sec), which regulates the physiological redox balance through its oxidoreductase activity. SeNPs have emerged as promising therapeutic agents in recent decades due to their reduced toxicity compared to Se, which has a narrow therapeutic window. SeNPs also exhibit synergistic effects with the therapeutic cargo, enhancing the anticancer activity. In this review, we have discussed the pharmacological effects of SeNPs, their pharmacological protective role against inflammation and oxidative stress-mediated conditions, and the latest advances in their synthesis and functionalization, utilized in cancer medication delivery systems, targeted drug delivery systems and gene delivery systems. In addition, we present an update on the most recent reported preclinical research involving the utilization of SeNPs in cancer treatment.