Inhibition of the crystal growth and aggregation of calcium oxalate by elemental selenium nanoparticles

Chemical modulation of calcium oxalate (CaC2O4) crystals morphologies by elemental selenium nanoparticles (nanoSe0) was investigated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The coordination between nanoSe0 and C2O42− had great effect on the formation of CaC2O4 crystals. NanoSe0 inhibited the growth of calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) crystals, prevented the aggregation of COM crystals and induced the formation of the spherical calcium oxalate dihydrate (COD) crystals containing selenium, which are the thermodynamically less stable phase and has a weaker affinity to the cell membranes than COM crystals. The inhibition of the crystal growth and aggregation of CaC2O4 crystals by nanoSe0 displayed concentration effects.