Preparation of Selenium Nanoparticles with Strong Anti-Tumor Activity Using Tiger Milk Mushroom

Preparation of highly stable selenium nanoparticles with strong anti-tumor activity using polysaccharide-protein complexes (PSP) isolated from mushroom sclerotia of Pleurotus tuber-regium

Recently, selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have become a new research target, since they were found to possess excellent bioavailability, low toxicity and remarkable anti-tumor activity. Nevertheless, SeNPs aggregate easily and their anti-tumor activity will be significantly reduced, once their nano-size could not be maintained. By using the PSP isolated from mushroom sclerotia of Pleurotus tuber-regium, highly stable SeNPs were successfully prepared under a simple food-grade redox system. Besides, these novel SeNPs were found to remarkably inhibit the growth of human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells by apoptosis induction in a dose-dependent manner, but were non-cytotoxic toward the normal cells.

Special Features and Advantages

This nanotechnology is the first of its kind to prepare highly stable SeNPs with strong anti-tumor activity using mushroom PSP as stabilizer
The novel SeNPs are prepared under a simple food-grade redox system
The novel SeNPs are highly stable, size-controllable and water dispersable

Applications

1. Mushroom PSP:

brand new functional food ingredients for stabilizing SeNPs

–> facilitate the development of mushroom cultivation industry

2. SeNPs:

novel cancer chemopreventive agents/health food products

--> facilitate the development of both drug and health food industries

--> promote public health & alleviate government’s medical expenses

Awards & Patent

Gold Medal - 40th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva, Switzerland (April 2012)
Prize of the Chinese Delegation of the Exhibition, 40th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva, Switzerland (April 2012)
Young Investigator Award - 2011 International Conference on Food Factors (November 2011)

Patent Application No.:

201110208539.2 (China)

Principal Investigator

Dr Ka-hing WONG

Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology

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Preparation of Selenium Nanoparticles with Strong Anti-Tumor Activity Using Tiger Milk Mushroom

Preparation of highly stable selenium nanoparticles with strong anti-tumor activity using polysaccharide-protein complexes (PSP) isolated from mushroom sclerotia of Pleurotus tuber-regium