Diatomite is a natural fossil material of sedimentary origin, composed by fragments of diatom siliceous skeletons. Due to its chemical inertness, thermal stability, high surface area, non-toxicity and biocompatibility, diatomite is considered an ideal material for the preparation of diatomite silica drug delivery nanocarriers. In this work, the properties of diatomite nanoparticles (DNPs) as potential system for drug delivery in cancer cells were exploited.