Multiple Emulsions as a Biomaterial-based Delivery System for the Controlled Release of an Anti-cancer Drug

Abstract

This paper focuses on developing multiple emulsions as a pH-responsive drug delivery system, for glioblastoma multiforme-GBM therapy, with reduced toxicity to healthy cells. The multiple emulsions with a stimuli-responsive biopolymer (CMC- sodium carboxymethylcellulose) were prepared in a Couette-Taylor flow contactor. As an external stimulus, the difference in pH of the cancer environment, and normal tissue, was investigated by adding salts as a triggering agent. The cancer cell lines of glioblastoma multiforme were investigated: U87MG, LN229, T98G, in order to verify emulsions’ components cytotoxicity to cells. Also normal (healthy) cells, K21-fribroblast, were analysed. Rhodamine B was used as a model drug instead of the clinically used chemotherapeutics (e.g. doxorubicin) in oncology. Results showed that multiple emulsions by themselves had no adverse effect on the viability of investigated cells, excluding one cell line: LN229. The control and modulated release rates of a model drug, by stimuli-responsive biopolymer, were established. Results confirmed the possibility of controlling the release rates of a drug in the acidic environment of the cancer cells. The proposed multiple emulsion could be explored for the potential delivery of chemotherapeutics in GBM therapy.