High quality β-FeOOH nanostructures constructed by a biomolecule-assisted hydrothermal approach and their pH-responsive drug delivery behaviors

β-FeOOH nanostructures with diverse well-defined morphologies such as urchin-like, bowknot-like and bamboo leaf-like structures have been obtained by controlled synthesis by a facile gelatin-assisted hydrothermal approach. The as-obtained β-FeOOH nanostructures presented promising pH-controlled anti-cancer drug delivery behaviors and low cytotoxicity and high cellular biocompatibility features.