In this study, we have fabricated the functionalized nickel nanoparticles and investigated their effects on cellular uptake ofquercetin in leukemia K562 cancer cells by using electrochemical assay. The results indicate that nickel nanoparticles couldefficiently enhance the quercetin uptake and increase the intracellular accumulation in cancer cells, implying the great potential offunctionalized nickel nanoparticles in target cancer therapy.2008 Xue Mei Wang. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society. All rights reserved.