ABSTRACT:
Selenium is an essential trace element with significant biochemical and therapeutic properties, including antioxidants, immunomodulatory, and detoxifying activities. Despite its benefits, traditional forms of selenium face limitations in bioavailability, solubility, and a narrow safety window. Selenium nanoparticles have emerged as a promising alternative due to their enhanced bioavailability, lower toxicity, and versatile biological activities. Among various methods for Selenium nanoparticles synthesis, microwave irradiation has gained attention for its efficiency, uniform heating, and high yield. This review focuses on the preparation of Selenium nanoparticles using the microwave-assisted technique and examines the critical factors influencing their synthesis. Key parameters include the concentration of selenite salt, concentration of reducing agent, surfactant concentration, reaction time, and temperature, all of which play pivotal roles in determining the size, morphology, stability, and crystallinity of the resulting nanoparticles. Higher concentrations of selenite salt typically led to increased particle size and decreased stability, while the concentration of reducing agents directly impacts the reduction kinetics and nanoparticle properties. Surfactant concentration is crucial for controlling nanoparticle surface properties and stability, influencing interactions within the synthesis environment. Reaction time and temperature significantly affect nucleation, growth processes, crystallinity, and polymorph formation. Optimizing these factors is essential for tailoring Selenium nanoparticles with desirable attributes for diverse applications, particularly in biomedical and industrial sectors. This review emphasizes the importance of precise control over synthetic parameters in the microwave-assisted method, providing insights into the production of Selenium nanoparticles with enhanced functionalities.