SELENIUM NANOPARTICLES SYNTHESIZED BY GAMA RADIATION

Franco, G. H. D.1; Pereira, A. G.1; Gonçalves, L. S.1; Gerolis, L. G. L1;Ribeiro Filho, J. N.1 Oliveira, A.P.F.1, Neves, M.
J.1
1Lab. Radiobiologia - Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear - CDTN/CNEN, Caixa Postal 941, UFMG - Pampulha, CEP: 30.123-970 Belo Horizonte,
MG, Brasil.²
email: guilhermeghdf@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The obtaining of nanoparticles, in various sizes and forms, it syntheses is carried out through different approaches, such as: chemical, physical and biological.
When compared to the material on its macroscopic scale, nanoparticles have distinct properties and are used in different domains. Mammals require reduced
amounts of Selenium in the body that are indispensable to proper functioning. Selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) are promising due to their wide range of
applications. Synthesis of nanoparticles using ionizing radiation in aqueous solution is a less toxic alternative compared to methods employing high
temperatures and pressures or aggressive chemical reagents. The method that uses ionizing radiation is based on water radiolysis with the concomitant
generation of free radicals. These radicals, when diffusing, form oxidizing and reducing species homogeneously distributed in the solution, allowing the
nanostructure of selenium. The objective of this work is to synthesize selenium nanoparticles through the gamma radiation, and later the characterization of the
nanoparticles obtained.

1. INTRODCTION Fig. 1 Effect of gamma irradiation on sodium selenite

solution. Fig. 3 shows the EDS of the synthesized selenium nanoparticles. The
The contact between humans and nanoparticles has been occurring presence of carbon (C), potassium (K), selenium (S), oxygen (O), sodium
throughout evolution and this contact has been increasing continuously (Na), nitrogen (N), chlorine (Cl), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S). It was observed
since the industrial revolution. [1]. Results and developments are seen in the that the carbon had the highest peak, which was already expected,
most varied fields such as: nanocomposites, biomaterials, molecular biology, considering that the nanoparticles were deposited on carbon tape and that
computer, chips, cosmetics industry, manufacturing processes, mechanical the YPG medium is composed of carbon-rich molecules, the other elements
industry, diagnostic and treatment medicine, etc. [2,3]. Nanoparticles can be found in the EDS analysis should correspond to constituents of the medium -
obtained in various sizes and shapes through different approaches, such as: YPG - an organic medium that traditionally contains these elements in
chemical, physical and biological. When compared to the material in its abundance. The peak relative to the element selenium is very visible, being
macroscopic scale, the nanoparticles have different properties and have the third peak in height after the carbon and potassium, fact that
become useful in different areas, such as: energy, health, environment, demonstrates the great content in selenium present in the constitution of the
among others [4]. synthesized nanoparticles.

At the end of the irradiation, 10 microliters of solution

Selenium is an indispensable element and present in reduced amounts in
containing nanoparticles obtained according to the procedure 4. CONCLUSION
the body of mammals, including humans. Selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs)
described in item 2 were added on carbon tape and left for
are promising because of their wide range of applications [5]. Particles
12 hours at room temperature for drying and then evaluated The synthesis of selenium nanoparticles performed by radiolytic reduction
having at least one of their dimensions smaller than100 nanometers are
in an Electronic Scanning Microscope (SEM). It is seen in promoted by gamma irradiation is efficient and allows the synthesis of
considered nanoparticles and may have amorphous or crystalline
Fig. 2 the presence of very agglomerated nanoparticles, spherical, dispersed nanoparticles with an average size of 100 nm, with a
morphology [6].
being clearly visible its rounded shape. The nanoparticles high presence of selenium.
have an average size of 100 nm. The SEM allows to
Methods of synthesis of nanoparticles using ionizing radiation in aqueous
observe, besides the morphology, the distribution of charge 5. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
solution are aless toxic alternative compared to existing physical, chemical
and, the chemical elements present in a sample, when they
and physic chemical methods that employ high temperatures and pressures
present the device Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry This work was supported by Fapemig (grant number CBB - APQ-00180-16)
or aggressive chemical reagents. The irradiation method is based on the
(EDS) added. and CDTN/CNEN.
radiolytic reduction through the generation of free radicals that leads to the
formation of both oxidizing and reducing species homogeneously distributed
in the solution that can act on different transition metals such as Au, Ag and Fig. 2 SEM of selenium nanoparticles. 6. REFERENCES
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2. METHODOLOGY Experimental Toxicology, v. 34, n. 12, p. 1318–1321, 2015.

In this work we used an IR-214 Multi-Purpose Panoramic Irradiator,
manufactured by MDS Nordion, and installed in the Gamma Irradiation
Laboratory (LIG/CDTN/CNEN),equipped with a dry cobalt-60 source. Culture
bottles, containing 100 ml of YPG medium and 1mM (final concentration) of
the sodium selenite solution, are placed in metal supports 7 cm away from
the source, receiving a total dose of 25 kGy. The source activity on
07/13/2018 was 23118.24 Gy, with a dose rate of 7142.5 Gy/hr.
The sodium selenite salt (Na2SeO3) of 172.94 g molecular weight,
purchased from Sigma®, was used. This salt is weighed, and diluted in
distilled water previously autoclaved (sterile). Storage is done at 4°C in
sterile amber glass. For the purpose of calculation, the concentrations used
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of selenium present in sodium selenite (2.19 g/L Na2SeO3 contains 1 g/L
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was added to the complete medium (final concentration of 1 mM) used for
routine yeast growth in laboratories, designated as YPG medium (Yeast
Peptone Glucose) composed of: 2% glucose, 2% peptone and 1% yeast
extract prepared in distilled water.
3. RESULTS
According to Gnaneshwar et al., 2016, when there is nanoparticle formation, a
solution of selenite that is colorless at its origin acquires a strong red color
characteristic of elemental Selenium (Se0) formation. The appearance of the
red color is due to the collective vibrations of the plasmonic bands, therefore, in
this situation, it is considered that their was a reduction of selenium +4 to
elemental Selenium (Se0). In the present case, the brownish solution, normal
color of the YPG medium without any addition, as can be seen in the bottle 2,
acquires the reddish coloration (see bottle 1 of Fig. 1).
The identification of the elements present in the sample was
performed through the analysis of the wavelengths.
Fig. 3 shows the chemical composition of the same sample
analyzed in Fig. 2, obtained through EDS and had its elemental
composition determined.
Fig. 3. EDS of selenium nanoparticles produced with
gamma irradiation.
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