Modification and modulation of saccharides on elemental selenium nanoparticles in liquid phase

The modification and modulation of saccharides on elemental selenium (Se0) nanoparticles in liquid phase were studied. The saccharides, such as monosaccharide (glucose), oligosaccharide (sucrose), polysaccharides (chitosan and the eucheuma striatum sulfated polysaccharide (ESSP)), were used as modifiers to modulate the formation rate and assembly of Se0 nanoparticles in liquid phase. Laser light scattering, transmission electron microscope (TEM) and resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS) were used to study the function of saccharides in modification and assembly of Se0 nanoparticles. The results show that the saccharides modulated the Se0 nanoparticles in the aspects of the diameter, size appearance and stability in the liquid phase. The modulation of saccharides on Se0 nanoparticles strengthened as the molecular sizes of saccharides increased. The different molecular structure of saccharides had various modulations and modifications on the assembly of the Se0 nanoparticles. The Se0-saccharide sol was stable for long time, especially the Se0-oligosaccharide sol and Se0-polysaccharide sol.