Elemental selenium is a promising therapeutic agent in the treatment of a variety of diseases. Here we demonstrate the synthesis of a novel nanomaterial which is able to deliver selenium to cells. Carbon nanoparticles are first synthesized by a dilute ultrasonic spray pyrolysis method, and subsequently they are surface doped with elemental selenium nanoparticles by an aqueous phase selenite salt reduction with glutathione. As an alternative approach, pure selenium nanoparticles are synthesized and stabilized in the presence of bovine serum albumin. The two competing selenium-containing nanoforms are characterized by electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, elemental analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Biological tests are underway to compare the effects and mechanism of cell delivery of these forms of nanostructured selenium.

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