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Prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in men. Some studies suggest that selenium Se (+4) may help prevent prostate cancer. Certain forms of Se (+4), such as Selol, have shown anticancer activity with demonstrated pro-oxidative effects, which can lead to cellular damage and cell death, making them potential candidates for cancer therapy. Our recent study in healthy mice found that Selol changes the oxidative–antioxidative status in blood and tissue. However, there are no data on the effect of Selol in mice with tumors, considering that the tumor itself influences this balance. This research investigated the impact of Selol on tumor morphology and oxidative–antioxidative status in blood and tumors, which may be crucial for the formulation's effectiveness. Our study was conducted on healthy and tumor-bearing animal models, which were either administered Selol or not. We determined antioxidant enzyme activities (Se-GPx, GPx, GST, and TrxR) spectrophotometrically in blood and the tumor. Furthermore, we measured plasma prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, plasma and tumor malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration as a biomarker of oxidative stress, selenium (Se) concentrations and the tumor ORAC value. Additionally, we assessed the impact of Selol on tumor morphology and the expression of p53, BCL2, and Ki-67. The results indicate that treatment with Selol influences the morphology of tumor cells, indicating a potential role in inducing cell death through necrosis. Long-term supplementation with Selol increased antioxidant enzyme activity in healthy animals and triggered oxidative stress in cancer cells, activating their antioxidant defense mechanisms. This research pathway shows promise in understanding the anticancer effects of Selol. Selol appears to increase the breakdown of cancer cells more effectively in small tumors than in larger ones. In advanced tumors, it may accelerate tumor growth if used as monotherapy. Therefore, further studies are necessary to evaluate its efficacy either in combination therapy or for the prevention of recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The as-prepared (MSE-NCs sample) and lyophilized (LMSE-NCs sample) polylactic-co-glicolic acid (PLGA) nanocapsules loaded with maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) nanoparticles and selol (Se-based anticancer drug) were investigated by means of dc magnetization, ac susceptibility and electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements over the temperature range of 4–300 K. The magnetic data of the as-synthesized nanocapsules containing only maghemite nanoparticles (M-NCs sample) or selol (SE-NCs sample) were also collected for comparison. The magnetic nanocapsules reveal perfect superparamagnetic (SPM) behavior only around room temperature; at temperatures lower than 200 K the SPM scaling is not observed and all samples behave as interacting superparamagnetic (ISPM) materials. The evolution from the ISPM to the SPM regime is marked by a steady decrease in the hysteretic properties of all samples, with the temperature dependence of the coercivity decreasing slower than the T1/2 behavior predicted for non-interacting SPM particles. The SPM character of the samples is also confirmed by the occurrence of a maximum in the temperature dependence of both real χ′(T) and imaginary χ′′(T) components of the ac magnetic susceptibility, which shifts towards higher temperatures with increasing frequency. Moreover, upon decreasing the temperature the ESR signal shifts to lower fields and gradually broadens, following closely the predictions for the ESR of SPM particles. Additionally, an unusual giant diamagnetic response is observed at low temperatures. The ZFC magnetization is found to reverse its direction and becomes diamagnetic, whereas the FC branch remains positive. Even when compared with usual superconductors, the order of the diamagnetic susceptibility for the lyophilized sample (−10−2 emu g−1 Oe−1) is quite considerable. The nanocapsules herein reported and the presented analysis of their magnetic properties we envisage can support the engineering of magnetic nanocapsules for applications in magnetic drug delivery systems and as magnetic hyperthermia inductors in antitumor therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocapsules (NCS-DOX) with an oily core of selol and a shell of poly(methyl vinyl ether-co-maleic anhydride) covalently conjugated to doxorubicin were developed. These nanocapsules are spherical, with an average hydrodynamic diameter of about 170 nm, and with negative zeta potential. NCS-DOX effectively co-delivered the selol and the doxorubicin into 4T1 cells and changed the intracellular distribution of DOX from the nuclei to the mitochondria. Moreover, a significantly increased cytotoxicity against 4T1 cells was observed, which is suggestive of additive or synergic effect of selol and doxorubicin. In conclusion, PVM/MA nanocapsules are suitable platforms to co-deliver drugs into cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our goal was to optimize the growth conditions of submerged mycelial cultures of Lentinula edodes (Shiitake mushroom) in order to obtain a new dietary supplement enriched in selenium We designed a process technology in which mycelial cultures were cultivated in media composed of beet molasses, 10%; liquid stillage, 5%; corn steep liquor, 0.15%; and KH2PO4, 0.3%, enriched with selenium in concentrations ranging from 0 to 100 μg/mL by the addition of sodium selenite of selenic acid. Se concentrations in mycelial dry mass rose from 0.001 mg/g (mycelia cultivated in media containing no selenium) to 50 mg/g (mycelia cultivated in medium containing 100 μg Se/mL). The highest mycelial specific growth rate (0.46/day) was recorded when the concentration of selenium in the medium was lower than 20 μg/mL. In vitro, estimated Se bioavailabilities from selenized mycelium strongly depended on its preparation in a proper manner and were 60% and 82% for dried mycelium and mycelial lyophilizate, respectively. Our results suggest that these optimized culture conditions could be applied to obtain a new Se-enriched dietary supplement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The as-prepared (MSE-NCs sample) and lyophilized (LMSE-NCs sample) polylactic-co-glicolic acid (PLGA) nanocapsules loaded with maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) nanoparticles and selol (Se-based anticancer drug) were investigated by means of dc magnetization, ac susceptibility and electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements over the temperature range of 4-300 K. The magnetic data of the as-synthesized nanocapsules containing only maghemite nanoparticles (M-NCs sample) or selol (SE-NCs sample) were also collected for comparison. The magnetic nanocapsules reveal perfect superparamagnetic (SPM) behavior only around room temperature; at temperatures lower than 200 K the SPM scaling is not observed and all samples behave as interacting superparamagnetic (ISPM) materials. The evolution from the ISPM to the SPM regime is marked by a steady decrease in the hysteretic properties of all samples, with the temperature dependence of the coercivity decreasing slower than the T1/2 behavior predicted for non-interacting SPM particles. The SPM character of the samples is also confirmed by the occurrence of a maximum in the temperature dependence of both real χ'(T) and imaginary χ''(T) components of the ac magnetic susceptibility, which shifts towards higher temperatures with increasing frequency. Moreover, upon decreasing the temperature the ESR signal shifts to lower fields and gradually broadens, following closely the predictions for the ESR of SPM particles. Additionally, an unusual giant diamagnetic response is observed at low temperatures. The ZFC magnetization is found to reverse its direction and becomes diamagnetic, whereas the FC branch remains positive. Even when compared with usual superconductors, the order of the diamagnetic susceptibility for the lyophilized sample (-10-2 emu g-1 Oe-1) is quite considerable. The nanocapsules herein reported and the presented analysis of their magnetic properties we envisage can support the engineering of magnetic nanocapsules for applications in magnetic drug delivery systems and as magnetic hyperthermia inductors in antitumor therapy.

Aim of the Study: Cellular resistance is strongly correlated with the risk of failure in doxorubicin (DOX) treatment, and the knowledge of the mechanisms of resistance and its possible modulation is still very limited., Material and Methods: In this study, we assessed the effect of 5% Selol and DOX on the expression of genes that affect cell proliferation in the resistant KB-V1 and sensitive HeLa cell lines, using RT2 ProfilerTM PCR Array matrix "Human Cancer Drug Resistance and Metabolism" (SABiosciences)., Results: We showed that HeLa and KB-V1 cell lines, characterised by varying susceptibility to DOX, have different genetic profiles as regards the studied genes. KB-V1 cells show overexpression of MYC and BCL2 genes, which encode proteins with anti apoptotic properties. Selol, when used in KB-V1 cells, reduced the expression of MYC and BCL2 genes, suggested as a new therapeutic target in the treatment of cancers resistant to cytostatic drugs., Conclusions: The results suggest that Selol could be used as a modulator that enhances the cytotoxic effects of doxorubicin, particularly in cells resistant to this drug.

Selol is a mixture of selenitriglycerides, obtained by the chemical modification of sunflower oil, which contain selenium at the +4 oxidation state. The aim of the present study was to describe the changes in the expression of genes related to oxidative stress caused by Selol in prostate cells: both normal (PNT1A) and malignant (LNCaP). The changes in gene expression in PNT1A and LNCaP cell lines under the influence of Selol were measured using a 96-well RT(2) Profiler ™PCR Array: Human Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Defense, which arrayed 84 genes functionally involved in the cellular oxidative stress response. Based on the obtained data, LNCaP cells exhibited a significantly lower potential for antioxidant defence when compared to PNT1A cells. The response of the malignant LNCaP cells to exposure to Selol was significantly different from that of the normal PNT1A cells, especially after 48 h of incubation. In the case of LNCaP cells, Selol causes down-regulation of the expression of many vital genes. Under in vitro conditions, the efficacy of Selol slightly changes with increasing concentration, but significantly increases when the incubation time is lengthened.