Biomimetic nanoporous carrier capsules for drug delivery and precision cancer therapy

Neem ( Azadirachta indica ) seed cake fatty acid–derived materials are widely used in pharmaceutical and agricultural applications due to their natural origin, biocompatibility, and environmental sustainability. Despite significant advances in synthetic drug carriers for cancer therapy, there remains a growing need for safe, eco-friendly, and nature-inspired drug delivery systems. In this study, a naturally derived nanobio drug transporter based on neem seed cake fatty acids was developed for targeted therapeutic applications. A surfactant-free and cost-effective nanoporous powder was synthesized from neem seed cake and calcined at approximately 450 °C to generate a porous carrier with high drug-loading capacity and sustained drug-release properties. The material was characterized using FTIR to identify functional groups, XRD to confirm its amorphous nature, SEM to examine particle morphology and size, AFM to investigate pore architecture, EDAX for elemental composition, and TGA to evaluate thermal stability. Drug-release behavior was monitored using UV–Visible spectroscopy. Biological performance was evaluated through MTT assays to assess cell viability and inhibition, while cellular uptake and morphology were examined using laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM). The calcined neem powder exhibited pore sizes of ∼200 nm with particle sizes ranging from 0.5 to 2 µm and showed excellent biocompatibility in HEK293 and HepG2 cell lines, enabling controlled release of doxorubicin (DOX) under acidic conditions.