Nanoparticles of dialdehyde starch loaded with ginger extract as a targeted nanocarrier for inhibiting proliferation of HT29 colon cancer cells

The present study investigated the antiproliferative effect of dialdehyde starch polymer (DSP) nanoparticles (NPs) containing ginger extract on colon cancer cells (HT29). Ginger plant extract was prepared, and then starch NPs were synthesized using the dialdehyde starch microemulsion method. Ginger extract was loaded into the starch nanoparticle matrix. The synthesized NPs were characterized by DLS, UV–Vis, FTIR, and FE-SEM analysis. The effects of NPs on HT29 cells were investigated using the MTT. NPs inhibit the growth of various cells in a concentration—and time-dependent manner. Increasing the concentration of NPs and treatment time significantly reduces the survival rate of cancer cells compared to the control sample, indicating that the cytotoxic effect of DSP-NPs containing ginger extract is greater than that of ginger extract and DSP-NPs alone, and has a significant impact on increasing cancer cell death. The synthesized starch NPs containing ginger with a size of ≈24 nm and a predominantly spherical morphology with slightly rough and porous surfaces, the active compounds of ginger with their chemical structure in high-potential NPs, are useful as drug carriers for targeting cancer cells. As a result, the above NPs can find numerous biomedical applications with therapeutic importance for combating colon cancer. • Dialdehyde starch nanoparticles (DSP-NPs) containing ginger extract were synthesized using the microemulsion method and characterized by DLS, UV–Vis, FTIR, and FE-SEM. • The synthesized nanoparticles had an average size of ≈24 nm with a predominantly spherical shape and slightly rough, porous surfaces. • Ginger-loaded DSP-NPs inhibited the growth of colon cancer cells (HT29) in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. • DSP-NPs containing ginger extract showed stronger cytotoxic effects compared to ginger extract or DSP-NPs alone, significantly increasing cancer cell death. • Due to their ability to carry active ginger compounds, these nanoparticles have high potential as drug carriers for biomedical applications, particularly in colon cancer therapy.