Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (26): 6916-6922.doi: 10.12307/2026.827

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Selenium effect on human bone health and its application in bone materials

Ye Gaoqi, Gong Yukang, Chen Dejin, Gao Wenshan   

  1. Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Baoding 071000, Hebei Province, China
  • Accepted:2025-12-31 Online:2026-09-18 Published:2026-03-16
  • Contact: Gao Wenshan, MD, Chief physician, Professor, Doctoral supervisor, Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Baoding 071000, Hebei Province, China
  • About author:Ye Gaoqi, MS candidate, Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Baoding 071000, Hebei Province, China
  • Supported by:
    2024 In-Hospital Fund Project of Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, No. 2024ZA01 (to GWS) 

Abstract: BACKGROUND: In recent years, selenium modified bone repair materials have shown great potential in the treatment of bone diseases and regenerative repair.
OBJECTIVE: To summarize the construction strategies of different types of selenium modified bone repair materials, as well as the effects, mechanisms, and repair promoting effects of regulating the immune microenvironment of bone regeneration.
METHODS: CNKI, WanFang, PubMed, and ScienceDirect databases were searched for literature published from database inception to 2025, using the Chinese search terms “selenium, bone defect, osteoporosis, Kashin Beck disease, osteosarcoma” and English search terms “selenium, bone defect, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, Kashin Beck disease, osteosarcoma.” By reading literature for initial screening, duplicate and irrelevant articles were excluded, and ultimately 64 articles were included for review.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Selenium has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and bone promoting properties, which can effectively improve the immune microenvironment for bone regeneration. Selenium has high toxicity, but introducing selenium into bone materials can effectively diminish the toxicity of selenium. Selenium is often incorporated into bone repair materials using methods like mesoporous particles, nanoparticles, hydrogen bonds, and covalent bonds (diselenoses). In composite materials, selenium uses its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties to regulate the immune environment and encourage osteogenic gene expression. This creates a favorable environment for bone defect repair and regeneration. Selenium also shows promise for treating Kashin-Beck disease by preventing cell death, promoting chondrocyte renewal, and regulating the cellular environment. Furthermore, by preventing cell death, acting as an antioxidant, slowing aging, and boosting cartilage synthesis, it can improve the environment around chondrocytes, offering a new approach to treating osteoarthritis. However, much of the research is currently still in early stages, and significant challenges must be addressed before it can be used clinically.


Key words: selenium, bone material, bone repair, bone disease, immune microenvironment, reactive oxygen species, bone, engineered bone materials

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