Prof. WONG Ka-hing, Director of the Research Institute for Future Food (RiFood) and Professor in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition (FSN), and his team developed novel Cs4-selenium nanocomposites (Cs4-SeNPs) for managing postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Selenium (Se) is an essential trace mineral for human health, playing an important role in many physiological functions. Se deficiency has been proven to be detrimental to bone microarchitecture and associated with osteoporosis, suggesting the crucial role of Se in bone metabolism. Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) are an emerging research target, since they exhibit remarkable bioavailability and lower toxicity as compared to the selenocompounds commomly found in food.
By using a polysaccharide-protein complex isolated from Cordyceps sinensis, the team has successfully prepared novel Cs4-SeNPs with well-characterised structure and high stability. Using a mouse model, researchers found that Cs4-SeNPs (10 μM) markedly induce proliferation, differentiation, and mineralisation of the preosteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells, i.e., precursors to bone-forming cells. In the study, laboratory mice with osteoporosis induced by ovariectomy (OVX)—removal of the ovaries—were given Cs4-SeNPs (25–500 μg/kg BW/d) orally for six weeks. The results indicated promising in vivo bone-protective efficacy against OVX-induced osteoporosis, as the novel nanoparticles promoted bone formation, inhibited bone resorption, and improved bone microarchitecture.
The research findings have been recently published in Journal of Functional Foods, and the patented nanotechnology has gained wide recognition with various international awards. Further investigation of Cs4-SeNPs’ gastrointestinal stability, intestinal absorption and metabolism is now underway. The team looks forward to collaborating with the industry in the further development of related health food products and drugs.
