Poria cocos Polysaccharide-Modified Selenium Nanoparticles: Structural Characterization, Stability, and In Vitro Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activity Studies

Selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) have received increasing attention as a new alternative source to other forms of selenium in nutritional dietary supplements; however, the limited stability and pronounced tendency of selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) to aggregate in aqueous environments have significantly constrained their practical applications. In this study, <i>Poria cocos</i> polysaccharide-modified Se NPs (PCP-Se NPs) were synthesized by the selenite/ascorbic acid chemical reduction method. PCP-Se NPs exhibited a uniformly dispersed spherical morphology with an average particle size of 66.64 ± 0.30 nm, and displayed an amorphous crystal structure. Compared to unmodified Se NPs, the PCP-Se NPs exhibited low Se release (8.83 ± 0.73%) after simulated gastrointestinal digestion, and they had excellent storage stability and salt ion stability. PCP-Se NPs exhibited potent antioxidant activity manifested by the effective scavenging of DDPH and ABTS radicals. PCP-Se NPs were efficiently internalized by RAW264.7 cells and released into the cytoplasm by a lysosomal escape mechanism, thereby effectively reducing intracellular inflammatory factor levels (the levels of MPO, NO, iNOS, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-10 in the PCP-Se NPs treatment group were 0.38 ± 0.013-fold, 0.26 ± 0.02-fold, 0.36 ± 0.02-fold, 0.57 ± 0.03-fold, 0.35 ± 0.02-fold, and 2.07 ± 0.16-fold that of the LPS group, respectively), alleviating oxidative stress (the levels of CAT, SOD, GSH, and MDA in the PCP-Se NP-treated group were 2.48 ± 0.02-fold, 1.91 ± 0.11-fold, 3.16 ± 0.28-fold, and 0.46 ± 0.03-fold that of the LPS group, respectively), and maintaining mitochondrial membrane potential stability. This study provides a basis and reference for improving the stability of Se NPs and developing novel selenium-enriched dietary supplements.