Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have become one of the most prospective and promising tools in the course of cancer diagnosis and therapy. Here we describe the synthesis of a novel radioactive platform for tumor imaging using selenium nanoparticles. SeNPs were synthetized using dithionite and glutathione as reducing and capping agent respectively with 5 mmol/L sodium selenite as a precursor and then SeNPs radiolabeled with technetium-99 m, the most common and famous radioactive isotope used for imaging purposes. A characteristic profile for the synthesized SeNPs was performed including size analysis, zeta potential, antioxidant activity, radiochemical yield and in-vivo biodistribution in normal and solid tumor bearing mice. Size analysis showed amorphous SeNP cores of a mean diameter of 21 ± 5 nm with a hydrodynamic size of 43 ± 8 nm and -28 mV zeta potential. The particles also showed a superior antioxidant activity of radical scavenging activity 55.6% according to DPPH assay, in addition, satisfying radiochemical yield up to 97 ± 1.5 was achieved. In vivo studies were applied on male Swiss albino mice that demonstrated a good biodistribution pattern in normal mice with a moderate accumulation in liver at 30 min post injection. Excellent T/NT ratios were obtained in solid tumor bearing mice throughout the experimental time points. The as-synthetized selenium nanoparticles demonstrated surprising and satisfying features which make them promising enough for tumor theranosis.
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