The dark side of “the force” - lipid nanoparticles enhance the oncogenesis of diethylnitrosamine and result in liver cancer in mice

DEN (diethylnitrosamine), a known carcinogen could result in cancer. However, here in this article, nanoDEN, a lipid nanoparticle embedded with DEN, showed much stronger abilities of liver injury, pimelosis and fibrosis in vivo. More importantly, application of trace amount of nanoDEN could result in tumor formation in the liver of mice, which is due to its enhanced toxicity toward normal cells.155