Myco-synthesis of selenium nanoparticles and their anticancer properties: a review

Abstract The effective management and treatment of cancer have become complex and challenging because of its rapid, uncontrollable growth, ability to evade the immune system, and the development of resistance to treatments. Biogenically synthesized selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have gained attention owing to their anticancer properties. The synthesis and development of nanoparticles (NPs) using fungi offer a promising approach to creating new products in nanobiotechnology. Various mycological cultures and their derived substances are promising because they are easy to handle, environmentally friendly, and are considered safe, tolerant, and capable of impressive intracellular metal accumulation or uptake. Fungi are exceptional in their ability to secrete enzymes both intracellularly and extracellularly. Their ability to produce a diverse array of metabolites, including enzymes, polysaccharides, proteins, and other biomolecules, makes them valuable bioreactors for NP synthesis. Myco-synthesis of NPs has revealed effective mechanisms in producing different metal and metalloid NPs. Several studies have confirmed the practical applications of these NPs spanning copious fields, comprising agriculture, medicine, and industry, benefiting goods, services, and mankind. This work presented a comprehensive and critical review of the Myco-synthesis of SeNPs and their anticancer potentials. It explores the exceptional properties of fungi as programmed bio-factories by systematically providing a comparative appraisal linking multiple fungal species, their synthesis condition, and secreted biomolecules to SeNPs physiological features. It provides a mechanistic insight into Myco-synthesized SeNPs extracellular versus intracellular pathways and expounds how physiological properties influence the anticancer efficacy and biosafety. Finally, the work integrates the in vitro and in vivo evidence, offering a translational insight into the therapeutic potentials of Myco-synthesized SeNPs.