Selenium-Enhanced Hydroxyapatite for Biomedical Applications

Hydroxyapatite (HA) closely resembles the mineral component of bone and is widely used in orthopaedic and dental applications. Incorporation of selenium into the HA lattice endows the material with additional bioactive properties, notably antibacterial and anticancer activity, while retaining osteoconductivity. Selenium-substituted HA can be fabricated via co-precipitation, solid-state sintering or ion-exchange methods, which allow fine control over crystallinity, particle size and ion release kinetics. The redox activity of selenium contributes to controlled generation of reactive oxygen species that selectively induce apoptosis in cancerous cells and inhibit bacterial proliferation. At low concentrations, selenium ions also promote osteoblastic differentiation and enhance osteogenic gene expression. Engineered scaffolds, coatings and composites based on selenium-enhanced HA combine mechanical strength with multifunctional bioactivity, offering dual therapeutic and regenerative capabilities. Ongoing efforts focus on tuning selenium content, release profiles and composite formulations to balance cytotoxicity and biocompatibility. This class of materials holds global significance for advanced implants, bone defect repair and targeted bone cancer therapies.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have demonstrated that nanostructured biphasic calcium phosphate can be doped with selenite ions and further modified by in situ incorporation of silver nanoparticles. The resulting composite exhibits a needle-cluster morphology, stable release of both selenium and silver ions, and broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains. Cytocompatibility assays confirm that osteoblasts maintain viability and proliferative capacity in contact with the doped material, highlighting its potential as a multifunctional coating or filler in load-bearing applications.

Research from all publishers

Biomimetic calcium phosphate co-precipitated with selenite and loaded with a curcumin prodrug has been shown to release both agents in a pH-responsive manner, achieving synergistic inhibition of osteosarcoma cells and concurrent enhancement of alkaline phosphatase activity in pre-osteoblasts. In vitro studies of selenite-substituted calcium phosphates prepared from biogenic precursors reveal selective cytotoxicity towards cancer cells while maintaining bioactivity, and demonstrate improved thermal stability of the apatite phase. Composite films combining polyhydroxyalkanoate matrices with selenium and strontium co-substituted hydroxyapatite exhibit tailored mechanical properties, sustained ion release, and significant reduction of bacterial colonisation on material surfaces, indicating promise for infection-resistant bone graft substitutes.

Selenium-Enhanced Hydroxyapatite for Biomedical Applications publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in selenium-enhanced hydroxyapatite for biomedical applications across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Hydroxyapatite: A calcium phosphate mineral analogous to bone mineral, used as a scaffold or coating in biomedical implants.

Selenium doping: The substitution or incorporation of selenium ions into a host material’s lattice to modify biological activity.

Osteogenesis: The process of new bone formation mediated by osteoblasts.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Highly reactive molecules containing oxygen that can induce oxidative stress and apoptosis in target cells.

Co-precipitation: A synthesis technique in which multiple ions are simultaneously precipitated from solution to form a composite material.

References

1. Selenium-Doped Hydroxyapatite Nanocrystals–Synthesis, Physicochemical Properties and Biological Significance. Crystals (2018).
2. Catechins-Modified Selenium-Doped Hydroxyapatite Nanomaterials for Improved Osteosarcoma Therapy Through Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species. Frontiers in Oncology (2019).
3. Nanostructured selenium-doped biphasic calcium phosphate with in situ incorporation of silver for antibacterial applications. Scientific Reports (2020).
4. Calcium Phosphate Loaded with Curcumin Prodrug and Selenium Is Bifunctional in Osteosarcoma Treatments. Journal of Functional Biomaterials (2024).
5. Selenite Substituted Calcium Phosphates: Preparation, Characterization, and Cytotoxic Activity. Materials (2021).
6. Antibacterial Composite Materials Based on the Combination of Polyhydroxyalkanoates With Selenium and Strontium Co-substituted Hydroxyapatite for Bone Regeneration. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology (2021).