Structure-driven medicinal applications of selenium nanoparticles: Challenges and opportunities in clinical translation

Since the bioactivity of nanomedicines is intrinsically governed by their structural configuration, selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) exhibit structure-dependent therapeutic efficacy in diverse biomedical domains spanning oncology, redox homeostasis regulation, immunomodulation, antimicrobial therapy, and regenerative therapy. However, their inherent dynamic instability and unclear chemical structure pose significant challenges in elucidating their action mechanisms, consequently impeding clinical translation, with current therapeutic applications remaining in their nascent stages. This perspective will delve into the synthetic strategies, structure-activity relationships, and biomedical applications of SeNPs while providing insights into the underlying connection between structure-driven therapeutic optimization and clinical translation.