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Retraction

RETRACTED: Alhakamy et al. Encapsulation of Lovastatin in Zein Nanoparticles Exhibits Enhanced Apoptotic Activity in HepG2 Cells. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20, 5788

by
Nabil A. Alhakamy
1,*,
Osama A.A. Ahmed
1,2,*,
Hibah M. Aldawsari
1,
Mohammad Y. Alfaifi
3,
Basma G. Eid
4,
Ashraf B. Abdel-Naim
4 and
Usama A. Fahmy
1
1
Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
2
Department of Pharmaceutics & Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Minia University, Minia 61519, Egypt
3
Biology Department, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, Abha 9004, Saudi Arabia
4
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(11), 5263; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26115263
Submission received: 23 April 2025 / Accepted: 20 May 2025 / Published: 30 May 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Pharmacology)
The journal retracts the article titled “Encapsulation of Lovastatin in Zein Nanoparticles Exhibits Enhanced Apoptotic Activity in HepG2 Cells” [1], cited above.
Following publication, concerns were brought to the attention of the Editorial Office regarding a range of image irregularities contained within this article [1] and image duplication between articles [1,2] published by the same author group.
Adhering to our standard procedure, the Editorial Office and Editorial Board conducted an investigation that confirmed image inaccuracies in Figure 4 and duplication between Figures 6A,B and 7A,B in [1], and Figures 5A,B and 6A,B in [2]. Following discussions, the authors collaborated but were unable to satisfactorily explain these irregularities, or provide appropriate raw material for Editorial Board evaluation. Consequently, the Editorial Board has lost confidence in the reliability of the findings and has decided to retract this publication [1], as per MDPI’s retraction policy (https://www.mdpi.com/ethics#_bookmark30).
This retraction was approved by the Editor-in-Chief of the Int. J. Mol. Sci.
The authors did not provide a comment on this decision.

References

  1. Alhakamy, N.A.; Ahmed, O.A.A.; Aldawsari, H.M.; Alfaifi, M.Y.; Eid, B.G.; Abdel-Naim, A.B.; Fahmy, U.A. RETRACTED: Encapsulation of Lovastatin in Zein Nanoparticles Exhibits Enhanced Apoptotic Activity in HepG2 Cells. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20, 5788. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  2. Al-Wahaibi, L.H.; Al-Saleem, M.S.M.; Ahmed, O.A.A.; Fahmy, U.A.; Alhakamy, N.A.; Eid, B.G.; Abdel-Naim, A.B.; Abdel-Mageed, W.M.; AlRasheed, M.M.; Shazly, G.A. RETRACTED: Optimized Conjugation of Fluvastatin to HIV-1 TAT Displays Enhanced Pro-Apoptotic Activity in HepG2 Cells. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21, 4138. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
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Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Alhakamy, N.A.; Ahmed, O.A.A.; Aldawsari, H.M.; Alfaifi, M.Y.; Eid, B.G.; Abdel-Naim, A.B.; Fahmy, U.A. RETRACTED: Alhakamy et al. Encapsulation of Lovastatin in Zein Nanoparticles Exhibits Enhanced Apoptotic Activity in HepG2 Cells. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20, 5788. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26, 5263. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26115263

AMA Style

Alhakamy NA, Ahmed OAA, Aldawsari HM, Alfaifi MY, Eid BG, Abdel-Naim AB, Fahmy UA. RETRACTED: Alhakamy et al. Encapsulation of Lovastatin in Zein Nanoparticles Exhibits Enhanced Apoptotic Activity in HepG2 Cells. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20, 5788. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2025; 26(11):5263. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26115263

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alhakamy, Nabil A., Osama A.A. Ahmed, Hibah M. Aldawsari, Mohammad Y. Alfaifi, Basma G. Eid, Ashraf B. Abdel-Naim, and Usama A. Fahmy. 2025. "RETRACTED: Alhakamy et al. Encapsulation of Lovastatin in Zein Nanoparticles Exhibits Enhanced Apoptotic Activity in HepG2 Cells. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20, 5788" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26, no. 11: 5263. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26115263

APA Style

Alhakamy, N. A., Ahmed, O. A. A., Aldawsari, H. M., Alfaifi, M. Y., Eid, B. G., Abdel-Naim, A. B., & Fahmy, U. A. (2025). RETRACTED: Alhakamy et al. Encapsulation of Lovastatin in Zein Nanoparticles Exhibits Enhanced Apoptotic Activity in HepG2 Cells. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20, 5788. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(11), 5263. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26115263

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