# Combining Gold and Selenium as Emerging Bioactive Compounds: From Synthesis to Therapeutic Potential

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how combining gold and selenium in chemical compounds can lead to new therapeutic applications, such as anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive overview of the synthesis and biological potential of selenium-containing gold compounds.

## Key findings

- Selenium-containing gold compounds show anticancer, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities.
- These compounds inhibit enzymes like thioredoxin reductase and disrupt redox homeostasis.
- The synergy between gold and selenium is key to their biological effects.

## Abstract

This review outlines an overview of selenium-containing
gold compounds,
framed within the context of gold chemistry. It emphasizes key synthetic
strategies and structural features of Au–Se complexes, encompassing
both gold­(I) and gold­(III) species. Various classes of selenium ligands
are discussed, including selenols, selenoureas, selenones, and selenium-NHCs,
among other organoselenium ligands. Despite the relatively limited
number of studies, these complexes exhibit diverse biological activities,
including anticancer, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects.
Mechanistic evidence suggests that these activities primarily arise
from inhibition of thiol- and selenol-containing enzymes (e.g., thioredoxin
reductase), disruption of redox homeostasis, or the induction of reactive
oxygen species (ROS) formation. The synergistic interplay between
gold and selenium centers is crucial for modulating these effects.
This review highlights emerging trends in ligand optimization, providing
a foundation for the rational design of next-generation selenium-based
gold therapeutics.