Biosynthesis of CeO₂@UiO-66-NH₂ nano-carrier for enhanced doxorubicin delivery and cytotoxicity assessment in HepG2 liver cancer cells

This study presents an economical and rapid approach for the preparation of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO 2 NP) using Ferula assa-foetida aqueous extract, and then CeO 2 @UiO-66-NH 2 nano-carrier (NC) prepared. CeO 2 NP and CeO 2 @UiO-66-NH 2 NC analyzed using PXRD, FESEM, EDX, BET, FT-IR, and UV-vis techniques. The FESEM analysis indicated that a spherical structure for CeO 2 NP with average size ~15 nm, and a regular octahedral structure for CeO 2 @UiO-66-NH 2 NC. The BET result presented a specific surface area of 547.3 m²/g for CeO 2 @UiO-66-NH 2 NC. The cell viability of CeO 2 NP and CeO 2 @UiO-66-NH 2 NC was evaluated on HEPG2 liver cancer cells through MTT assay. IC 50 values were calculated to be 384.89 µg/mL for CeO 2 nanoparticles and > 500 µg/mL for CeO 2 @UiO-66-NH 2 . The loading and release profiles of doxorubicin (DOX) studied using synthesized CeO 2 @UiO-66-NH 2 NC. The results presented that CeO 2 @UiO-66-NH 2 NC is able to loading capacity of 69.10%. Additionally, the DOX release test indicated that CeO 2 @UiO-66-NH 2 is capable of a stepwise release in an acidic environment, with 67.33% of the drug released within 48 h. The kinetics of doxorubicin release from the CeO 2 @UiO-66-NH 2 nano-carrier were most accurately represented by the Korsmeyer-Peppas model (R²=0.786), suggesting a complex mechanism of release that is controlled by diffusion. This pH-responsive, stepwise release profile is particularly advantageous for targeted therapy in liver cancer.