ASGR1 and liver cancer: 2016). However, this study reported the effects of Pe-AuNPs loaded with DOX on human liver cancer cells (HepG2 cells), overexpressing the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR). A lack of cytotoxicity was observed in HepG2 cells and HeLa cells, where > 85% of viable cells were reported after 48 h of receiving Pe-AuNPs. The non-cytotoxic trait of Pe-AuNPs is attributed to the biocompatible nature of pectin, the stability of Pe-AuNPs in the intracellular environment and a lack of anionic AuNP interaction with the negatively charged cell membrane (Goodman et al. 2004).