New articles published: V. 14 n. 4 (2026)

Gamma-irradiation applied to the synthesis of selenium nanoparticles and its influence on physicochemical properties

Abstract: Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have attracted considerable attention due to their biocompatibility and potential biomedical applications; however, their physicochemical properties strongly depend on synthesis conditions. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the influence of gamma irradiation dose (25-100 kGy), precursor concentration (1-2 mM Na₂SeO₃), and ethanol as a hydroxyl radical scavenger on the radiolytic synthesis of SeNPs. The results demonstrated that increasing irradiation dose up to 75 kGy, higher precursor concentration, and ethanol presence led to an increase in hydrodynamic size, while a reduction at 100 kGy suggests a fragmentation effect. Zeta potential values ranged from −54.4 to +13.9 mV, indicating heterogeneous surface charge and a tendency toward aggregation, supported by elevated polydispersity index values. Elemental analysis by EDS confirmed high selenium incorporation (60.72%–91.54%), with higher contents associated with conditions favoring efficient radiolytic reduction. Semi-quantitative yield estimations indicated high selenium incorporation efficiency, particularly under intermediate irradiation doses and in the presence of ethanol. Morphological characterization revealed predominantly spherical nanostructures. Overall, the findings demonstrate that radiolytic synthesis is a controllable and environmentally friendly approach for producing SeNPs, in which irradiation dose, precursor concentration, and radical scavengers play a critical role in determining nanoparticle size, composition, and stability. These insights contribute to the rational design of SeNPs for future biomedical and technological applications. Read full article.