Chemosensitizer Effects of Coencapsulation of Curcumin and Cabazitaxel in Nanostructured Lipid Carriers in Glioblastoma Cells

Gliomas are the most common primary tumors of the central nervous system and are associated with poor prognosis. Current therapy with Temozolomide shows limited efficacy, highlighting the need for new treatment options. Cabazitaxel (CBZ), a chemotherapeutic agent approved for prostate cancer, has shown efficacy in preclinical glioblastoma models. However, there is a need for strategies to reduce toxicity and enhance delivery. Curcumin (CUR), known for its antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, has been investigated as a potential chemosensitizer. Here, we developed and characterized a nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) for codelivery of CBZ and CUR, evaluating its cytotoxic effect on U87MG GBM cells. The NLCs were optimized using a Box–Behnken design and exhibited a size below 150 nm, low polydispersity, and stability. The NLC–CUR/CBZ showed spherical morphology and low crystallinity that contributed to high encapsulation efficiency of both compounds (>98%). Furthermore, this system exhibited high cellular internalization and cytotoxic activity, reducing the IC50 by 2.418 times compared to free CBZ, and induced predominantly apoptotic cell death. The results highlight the potential of CUR and CBZ coencapsulation in NLCs for GBM treatment, providing a basis for future clinical investigations.