Multiple emulsions as effective platforms for controlled anti-cancer drug delivery.

AIM: Developing pH-responsive multiple emulsion platforms for effective glioblastoma multiforme therapy with reduced toxicity, a drug release study and modeling.

MATERIALS & METHODS: Cancer cell line: U87 MG, multiple emulsions with pH-responsive biopolymer and encapsulated doxorubicin (DOX); preparation of multiple emulsions in a Couette-Taylor flow biocontactor, in vitro release study of DOX (fluorescence intensity analysis), in vitro cytotoxicity study (alamarBlue cell viability assay) and numerical simulation of DOX release rates.

RESULTS: The multiple emulsions offered a high DOX encapsulation efficiency (97.4 ± 1%) and pH modulated release rates of a drug. Multiple emulsions with a low concentration of DOX (0.02 μM) exhibited broadly advanced cell (U87 MG) cytotoxicity than free DOX solution used at the same concentration.

CONCLUSION: Emulsion platforms could be explored for potential delivery of chemotherapeutics in glioblastoma multiforme therapy.