Sustainable Biopolymer‐Selenium Nanocomposite: Synthesis, Characterization, Antioxidant, and Antibacterial Evaluation

This study investigates the synthesis and biofunctional performance of selenium‐enriched okra mucilage nanocomposites (OG–Se) as sustainable antimicrobial and antioxidant systems. Selenium was incorporated into okra mucilage at concentrations of 1%, 2%, and 3% (w/w), and the resulting nanocomposites were evaluated against Pseudomonas aeruginosa ( P. aeruginosa ) , Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli , and Bacillus cereus using the agar well diffusion method. The results demonstrated a clear concentration‐dependent enhancement in antimicrobial activity, with OG–Se 2% exhibiting the highest inhibition, particularly against P. aeruginosa (41.16 mm). In contrast, the base okra mucilage showed significantly lower antibacterial activity. In addition, antioxidant activity assessed by the DPPH assay revealed that OG–Se 3% achieved the highest radical scavenging efficiency (99.63% at 1000 µg/mL), indicating strong redox performance. The enhanced bioactivity is attributed to the synergistic interaction between selenium nanoparticles and the okra mucilage matrix, which improves nanoparticle stability, prevents aggregation, and promotes mechanisms such as reactive oxygen species generation and radical scavenging. Overall, the developed nanocomposite system presents a promising, eco‐friendly alternative for applications in food preservation, antimicrobial packaging, and sustainable bioactive materials.