Cytotoxicity Evaluation of Pectin‐Coated Fe ₂ O ₃ Nanoparticles in HCT‐116 Cell Line: A Preliminary Study

ABSTRACT The surface functionalization of magnetic nanoparticles with biocompatible polymers like pectin enhances their biocompatibility and provides a strategy for targeting cancer cells. This paper describes the synthesis of iron oxide (Fe 2 O 3 ) and pectin‐coated Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles (Fe 2 O 3 @Pectin) through a simple ultrasonic‐assisted co‐precipitation process. The synthesized nanocomposites were characterized by FTIR, XRD, UV‐Vis spectroscopy, EDAX, FE‐SEM, and VSM, which validated successful pectin functionalization with minimized aggregation (particle size ∼170 nm) and altered magnetic properties (magnetization decreased to 5.20 emu/g after coating). Cytotoxicity tests on HCT‐116 human colon carcinoma cells showed dose‐dependent cell death, with IC 50 of 184.4 ± 0.125 µg/mL for Fe 2 O 3 @Pectin. DNA fragmentation tests confirmed 96.99% apoptotic DNA damage, suggesting ROS production and mitochondrial disruption as potential mechanisms. The pectin coating improved cellular uptake as evidenced by enhanced cytotoxicity compared to uncoated nanoparticles. This preliminary study provides initial evidence for the potential anticancer activity of Fe 2 O 3 @Pectin nanoparticles. However, further validation with normal cell line controls is required to establish selectivity and safety. This nano‐platform combines the magnetic properties of Fe 2 O 3 with the biodegradability of pectin, warranting further investigation as a candidate for targeted cancer therapy.