Sulfur and selenium antioxidants: challenging radical scavenging mechanisms and developing structure-activity relationships based on metal binding.

Because sulfur and selenium antioxidants can prevent oxidative damage, numerous animal and clinical trials have investigated the ability of these compounds to prevent the oxidative stress that is an underlying cause of cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer, among others. One of the most common sources of oxidative damage is metal-generated hydroxyl radical; however, very little research has focused on determining the metal-binding abilities and structural attributes that affect oxidative damage prevention by sulfur and selenium compounds. In this review, we describe our ongoing investigations into sulfur and selenium antioxidant prevention of iron- and copper-mediated oxidative DNA damage.

Photosensitizer-doped conjugated polymer nanoparticles with high cross-sections for one- and two-photon excitation.

We report a novel nanoparticle that is promising for photodynamic therapy applications, which consists of a π-conjugated polymer doped with a singlet oxygen photosensitizer. The nanoparticles exhibit highly efficient collection of excitation light due to the large excitation cross-section of the polymer. A quantum efficiency of singlet oxygen production of 0.

Preventing metal-mediated oxidative DNA damage with selenium compounds.

Copper and iron are two widely studied transition metals associated with hydroxyl radical (˙OH) generation, oxidative damage, and disease development. Because antioxidants ameliorate metal-mediated DNA damage, DNA gel electrophoresis assays were used to quantify the ability of ten selenium-containing compounds to inhibit metal-mediated DNA damage by hydroxyl radical. In the Cu(I)/H(2)O(2) system, selenocystine, selenomethionine, and methyl-selenocysteine inhibit DNA damage with IC(50) values ranging from 3.

Antioxidant and anticancer properties and mechanisms of inorganic selenium, oxo-sulfur, and oxo-selenium compounds.

Inorganic selenium and oxo-sulfur compounds are widely available in dietary supplements and have been extensively studied for their antioxidant and anticancer properties. Although many in vivo and clinical trials have been conducted using these compounds, their biochemical and chemical mechanisms of efficacy are the focus of much current research. This review discusses the ability of inorganic selenium compounds, such as selenite, and selenate, to prevent damage from reactive oxygen species as well as their ability to promote cell death by reactive oxygen species generation.

Effects of inorganic selenium compounds on oxidative DNA damage.

Exposure of Escherichia coli or mammalian cells to H2O2 results in cell death due to iron-mediated DNA damage. Since selenium compounds have been examined for their ability to act as antioxidants to neutralize radical species, and inorganic selenium compounds are used to supplement protein mixes, infant formula, and animal feed, determining the effect of these compounds on DNA damage under conditions of oxidative stress is crucial. In the presence of Fe(II) and H2O2, the effects of Na2SeO4, Na2SeO3, SeO2 (0.