The Anti-Glioblastoma Effects of Novel Liposomal Formulations Loaded with Cannabidiol, Celecoxib, and 2,5-Dimethylcelecoxib
<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) therapy efficacy remains limited due to the poor blood-brain barrier-penetrating power of drugs as well as dysregulated cellular signaling pathways of tumor cells leading to drug resistance. Novel drug delivery systems such as liposome-based nanoformulations improve the bioavailability and stability of water-insoluble drugs, while co-delivery of two anti-cancer compounds can further increase their anti-tumor effectiveness due to synergistic effects. Thus, the aim of this study was to obtain liposomal nanoformulations encapsulating cannabidiol (CBD), celecoxib (CELE), and 2,5-dimethylcelecoxib (DMC) and their combinations and to verify their anti-GBM properties. <b>Methods</b>: Five liposomal nanoformulations were obtained using a modified thin-film hydration technique. Two GBM cell lines and non-cancerous astrocytes were used for the biological evaluation of the tested nanoformulations. The cytotoxicity experiments were performed using the MTT assay, whereas flow cytometry-based analysis assessed the effect of the liposomes on apoptosis, cell cycle distribution, and oxidative stress. To determine the impact of the tested nanoformulations on Nrf2, Wnt/β-catenin, and NF-κB signaling pathways, qPCR, Western blot and ELISA techniques were used. <b>Results</b>: The findings of this study demonstrate that liposomal nanoformulations containing CBD, CELE, and DMC exhibit significant anti-GBM activity, particularly through the induction of apoptosis and oxidative stress and modulation of the key signaling pathways. Although no clear synergistic/additive effects were observed between CBD and CELE or DMC when co-loaded in nanoformulations, the combination of CBD and CELE effectively suppressed Wnt/β-catenin and NF-κB signaling and activated the Nrf2 pathway. These results support the therapeutic potential of liposome-based co-delivery of CBD and CELE in GBM therapy. However, further in vivo studies are warranted to determine these nanoformulations' translational relevance and clinical applicability.
Authors
- Aleksandra Majchrzak‐Celińska (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2872-8875)
- Ludwika Piwowarczyk (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0888-7262)
- Violetta Krajka‐Kuźniak (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7275-0298)
- Anna Rybarczyk (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4179-5252)
Institutions
- Poznan University of Medical Sciences (PL)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Pharmaceutics
- Published
- 2025-08-08
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17081031
- Citations
- 5
- Primary Topic
- Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 6.97
Funders
- Narodowe Centrum Nauki