In Vitro Evaluation of Neem Flower-mediated Selenium–curcumin Nano Formulation Incorporated into a Chitosan-based Formulation for Oral Applications
J. Environ. Nanotechnol., Volume 15, No 3 (September 2026) pp. 965-973
Abstract
Plant-mediated synthesis provides a green route for preparing selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) using biological extracts as an alternative to conventional chemical synthesis. Neem flower extract contains phytochemicals that may participate in selenium precursor reduction and nanoparticle surface stabilization. Curcumin and chitosan are also of interest for experimental oral formulations because of their reported antioxidant, antimicrobial, and formulation-related properties. This study evaluated neem flower-mediated SeNPs and a selenium–curcumin nano formulation incorporated into a chitosan-based formulation, with emphasis on preliminary physicochemical characterization and in vitro biological activity. An aqueous neem flower extract was prepared and combined with sodium selenite to generate the SeNP preparation. Curcumin dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide and diluted with water was combined with the SeNP preparation, and the resulting formulation was incorporated into a chitosan matrix. UV–visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy were used for characterization. Antimicrobial activity was assessed against selected oral microorganisms, and preliminary biological evaluations, including DPPH radical-scavenging, brine shrimp, and zebrafish assays, were carried out. The synthesized nanomaterial showed an absorption at approximately 450 nm. The antimicrobial experiment demonstrated inhibition of the tested microorganisms, with larger inhibition zones at the highest tested sample volume and the largest zone reported for Staphylococcus aureus. Further investigation of neem-mediated SeNP and selenium–curcumin/chitosan formulations as experimental oral nanomaterials can be considered.
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