Multifunctional armored nanoemulsion of elemene combining ferroptosis induction and gut homeostasis restoration in colorectal cancer therapy

Elemene (EL CAS No. 33880-83-0) the primary active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) with antitumor activity Polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil (RH40, CAS No. 61788-85-0), a key non-ionic surfactant for nanoemulsion stabilization.Hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB, CAS No. 57-09-0), a cationic surfactant used in the nanoemulsion formulation.Low-methoxyl pectin (LMP, CAS No. 9000-69-5), an anionic polysaccharide constituting the functional "armor" of the nanoemulsion.Liproxstatin-1 (Lip-1, CAS No. 950455-15-9), a potent ferroptosis inhibitor used for mechanistic validation.Glutathione (GSH, reduced form, CAS No. 70-18-8), a central antioxidant, quantified to assess the status of the GPX4-mediated ferroptosis defense system.Malondialdehyde (MDA, CAS No. 542-78-9), the primary end-product of lipid peroxidation, quantified as a key indicator of ferroptosis.