The ability of bioluminescent bacteria to produce selenium nanoparticles was discovered by researchers from Siberian Federal University (SFU) and the Institute of Biophysics SB RAS, the SFU press service reported on August 5.
These nanoparticles can be used for therapy or for the targeted delivery of drugs to affected organs and tissues, as selenium is a vital trace element for humans. It is necessary for the functioning of the immune system and the thyroid gland. Its therapeutic effect is used in the treatment of hepatitis, pancreatitis, skin diseases and otorhinolaryngology.
Lack of selenium in the human body can lead to liver and kidney dystrophy, impaired bone growth, and in children – a delay in psychomotor development. At the same time, in large quantities, selenium compounds (selenites and selenates) can have a toxic effect on living organisms.
This implies the importance of regular monitoring of the content of this element in water and soil where it was observed that it exceeded the maximum permissible standards. This is the north of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, Yakutia and the Middle Urals.
Scientists from Siberian Federal University have discovered that the bioluminescent bacteria Photobacterium phosphoreum can be successfully used to monitor water containing selenium compounds, as excessive concentration of this element dims the bacteria’s glow.
At the same time, these bioluminescent bacteria can be used to extract excess selenites and selenates from water, thereby disinfecting it, since during their vital processes they return these toxic compounds to a safe form: elemental selenium. Particularly interesting was the discovery that these firefly bacteria can convert excess selenium compounds into selenium nanoparticles.
Nadezhda Kudryasheva, a doctor of physical and mathematical sciences and a professor at the Department of Biophysics at Siberian Federal University, explained that bioluminescent bacteria begin this work when an excess of selenites and selenates in the habitat begins to threaten their existence:
“There are regions in Russia where the content of toxic selenium compounds is naturally exceeded: they are found in water, soil and rocks. In addition, water-soluble selenium compounds often enter the environment due to anthropogenic factors, such as mining. When such an excess occurs in a deposit, bacteria come into play: they are able to convert these compounds into a safe form and “package” amorphous selenium in the form of nanoparticles.”.
Kudryasheva noted that selenium nanoparticles synthesized by the bacterium Photobacterium phosphoreum can be used in semiconductor production, as well as in medicine and cosmetology as a basis for antitumor and antimicrobial drugs.
In addition, they can become reliable radioprotectors, protecting the body from radioactive elements. Furthermore, selenium nanoparticles can be used as vehicles for targeted drug delivery, since selenium is highly compatible with the human body and does not cause an allergic reaction, and therapeutic molecules can be easily attached to its nanoparticles.
The researchers plan to continue working with bioluminescent bacteria to test their ability to synthesize iron nanoparticles.
“There is a phenomenon called ferroptosis: programmed cell death in the presence of iron. If bioluminescent bacteria show the ability to produce nanoparticles of this metal, this will contribute to the study of the possibility of destroying cancer cells with iron.””Noted Nadezhda Kudryasheva.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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