Targeted delivery of quercetin using gelatin/starch/FeO nanocarrier to suppress the growth of liver cancer HepG2 cells.

To suppress HepG2 liver cancer cells, a nanocarrier (NC) consisting of FeO, Gelatin (G), and Starch (S) was synthesized and characterized for targeted delivery of Quercetin (QC) drug. The spectra obtained from X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) demonstrated that the nanoparticles (NP) in the NC are well-interconnected to each other and have formed a regular structure. Also, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) indicates a smooth and homogeneous surface of the synthesized NC. The results of the vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) also corroborated the correctness of the synthesis of FeO NPs and Gelatin/Starch/FeO@Quercetin NC (G/S/FeO@QC) because the magnetic properties of FeO decreased with the addition of G/S@QC. Stability and particle size were determined by zeta potential and Dynamic light scattering (DLS). The percentage of drug loading and encapsulation efficiency of QC in the NC was 46.25 % and 87 %, respectively. QC profile release in acidic and natural environments showed controlled release and pH sensitivity of the NC. Cytotoxicity of L929 and HepG2 treated cells with the G/S/FeO@QC was investigated by MTT staining, which agreed with the flow cytometry result. The results of Flowcytometry and MTT showed 43.5 % apoptosis and 42 % cytotoxicity in treated HepG2 cells by G/S/FeO@QC, while it was not toxic to L929 normal cells. According to the results, G/S/FeO@QC is a suitable NC for the targeted delivery of QC as a drug against HepG2 cancer cells.