Preparation, characterization, and antitumor activity of Chaenomeles speciosa polysaccharide-based selenium nanoparticles

[Display omitted] Nanoparticles have been found to possess unique advantages in many fields, especially in the field of cancer treatment. Herein, based on the unique physical and chemical properties of natural polysaccharides, the polysaccharide from the edible and medicinal fruits of Chaenomeles speciosa was prepared, and the complex nanoparticles constructed by combining C. speciosa polysaccharide with selenium have been successfully developed by a chemical method. Monodisperse spherical nanoparticles with the particle size of 80.5 nm were characterized by various methods, which exhibited ideal size distribution and prominent stability under physiological conditions and alkaline conditions. Cellular studies demonstrated the nanoparticles significantly inhibited the growth of MCF-7 cells with an IC50 value of 8.37 ± 0.97 μg/mL through inducing the apoptosis and arresting the cell circle at S phase. Moreover, the zebrafish assays confirmed the antitumor effects of the nanoparticles, which suppressed the proliferation and migration of tumor and blocked the angiogenesis of transgenic zebrafish. Collectively, the results suggested that the nanoparticles may be considered as a candidate agent to treat breast cancer.