# Folic Acid–Functionalized MWCNT-Conjugated Zirconium Oxide Nanoparticles for Targeted Cancer Cell Delivery of Astaxanthin

## TL;DR

Researchers developed a targeted cancer therapy using folic acid and carbon nanotubes to deliver astaxanthin, showing strong anticancer effects in breast cancer cells.

## Contribution

A novel nanocomposite combining folic acid, MWCNTs, and zirconium oxide nanoparticles for targeted astaxanthin delivery to cancer cells.

## Key findings

- FAZM showed high antioxidant activity with IC50 values of 822.78 μg/mL (ABTS) and 320.70 μg/mL (DPPH).
- FAZM significantly inhibited MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell proliferation with an IC50 of 115.84 μg/mL.
- FAZM demonstrated low cytotoxicity in normal skin cells and good hemocompatibility.

## Abstract

In this study, zirconium oxide nanoparticles (ZrO2 NPs) were synthesized using astaxanthin (AST) rich extract (AZ) and subsequently conjugated with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) (AZM) and functionalized with folic acid (FA) (FAZM) to develop a cancer-targeting nanocomposite with enhanced anticancer efficacy. The physicochemical properties of the synthesized materials were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), electrophoretic light scattering (ELS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). FAZM exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, with IC50 values of 822.78 μg/mL against ABTS and 320.70 μg/mL against DPPH free radicals. Biocompatibility assessments revealed that FAZM exhibited little cytotoxicity in normal human skin cells and demonstrated improved hemocompatibility, as confirmed by a hemolysis assay. Furthermore, FAZM significantly inhibited the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, inducing apoptosis and exhibiting potent cytotoxic effects (IC50: 115.84 μg/mL). These findings suggest that FA and MWCNTs enhance the cancer-targeting capability of AZ while maximizing its selective cytotoxicity against cancer cells. This study highlights that FA-functionalized MWCNT-conjugated ZrO2 NPs are a promising nanoplatform as an AST delivery system for targeted cancer therapy.