Polymeric Micelles Co-Loaded with Cannabidiol, Celecoxib, and Temozolomide—Early-Stage Assessment of Anti-Glioma Properties

Malignant gliomas, including glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and grade 4 astrocytoma, are the most common types of brain tumors in adults. Standard treatment for gliomas includes adjuvant chemotherapy, typically based on temozolomide, combined with radiotherapy. However, its effectiveness is severely hindered by the limited ability of drugs to cross the blood–brain barrier and by the hyperactivation of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway, which drives tumor cell survival. Therefore, innovative drug combinations and novel delivery strategies are crucial for overcoming these barriers. Polymeric micelles represent a promising approach for enhancing drug delivery to brain tumors. This study aimed to obtain micelles containing cannabidiol (CBD), celecoxib (CELE), and temozolomide (TMZ), as well as their combinations, and to verify their anti-glioma properties. The study involved optimizing the micelle composition, incorporating active ingredients, and assessing the temporal stability of the resulting nanocarriers under varying temperature conditions. The GBM cell line U-138 MG and astrocytoma cell line U-87 MG were used to evaluate the biologic effects of the tested micelles. Cytotoxicity was assessed using the MTT assay, and flow cytometry was used to analyze the effect of the micelles on apoptosis. Western blot analysis was employed to assess the impact of the tested nanoformulations on the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. The optimized micelles demonstrated strong cytotoxic and proapoptotic effects, accompanied by attenuation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. These preliminary findings support the therapeutic potential of polymeric micelles for treating malignant gliomas; however, further in vitro and in vivo studies are required to confirm their clinical applicability.

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Journal
Micro
Published
2026-02-04
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/micro6010011
Primary Topic
Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
Type
article
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article

Polymeric Micelles Co-Loaded with Cannabidiol, Celecoxib, and Temozolomide—Early-Stage Assessment of Anti-Glioma Properties

Ewelina Musielak, Anna Rybarczyk, Agnieszka Feliczak-Guzik, Aleksandra Majchrzak-Celińska et al.
Micro
Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
article

Polymeric Micelles Co-Loaded with Cannabidiol, Celecoxib, and Temozolomide—Early-Stage Assessment of Anti-Glioma Properties

Ewelina Musielak, Anna Rybarczyk, Agnieszka Feliczak-Guzik, Aleksandra Majchrzak-Celińska, Violetta Krajka-Kuźniak
article en

Abstract

Malignant gliomas, including glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and grade 4 astrocytoma, are the most common types of brain tumors in adults. Standard treatment for gliomas includes adjuvant chemotherapy, typically based on temozolomide, combined with radiotherapy. However, its effectiveness is severely hindered by the limited ability of drugs to cross the blood–brain barrier and by the hyperactivation of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway, which drives tumor cell survival. Therefore, innovative drug combinations and novel delivery strategies are crucial for overcoming these barriers. Polymeric micelles represent a promising approach for enhancing drug delivery to brain tumors. This study aimed to obtain micelles containing cannabidiol (CBD), celecoxib (CELE), and temozolomide (TMZ), as well as their combinations, and to verify their anti-glioma properties. The study involved optimizing the micelle composition, incorporating active ingredients, and assessing the temporal stability of the resulting nanocarriers under varying temperature conditions. The GBM cell line U-138 MG and astrocytoma cell line U-87 MG were used to evaluate the biologic effects of the tested micelles. Cytotoxicity was assessed using the MTT assay, and flow cytometry was used to analyze the effect of the micelles on apoptosis. Western blot analysis was employed to assess the impact of the tested nanoformulations on the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. The optimized micelles demonstrated strong cytotoxic and proapoptotic effects, accompanied by attenuation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. These preliminary findings support the therapeutic potential of polymeric micelles for treating malignant gliomas; however, further in vitro and in vivo studies are required to confirm their clinical applicability.

MicroVol. 6(1)
Poznan University of Medical Sciences (PL), Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (PL)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 67%
Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
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