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A novel strategy for brain cancer treatment through a multiple emulsion system for simultaneous therapeutics delivery

  • Ewa Dluska ORCID logo EMAIL logo and Agnieszka Markowska-Radomska EMAIL logo
Published/Copyright: June 3, 2025
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Physical Sciences Reviews
From the journal Physical Sciences Reviews Volume 10 Issue 5-6

Abstract

The research integrates chemical engineering principles with biological insights to overcome key barriers in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) therapy. GBM remains one of the most aggressive and lethal brain tumours, characterised by its infiltrative growth, chemoresistance and poor prognosis. Conventional chemotherapy faces critical limitations, including restricted drug penetration across the blood–brain barrier, systemic toxicity and tumour resistance to classic treatment. Addressing these challenges, this study proposes an innovative, multiple emulsion–based drug delivery system designed to enhance the therapeutic effectiveness of GBM treatment through synergistic combinations of RNA-class molecules and chemotherapeutic agent (doxorubicin–DOX). The system utilises a pH-responsive biopolymer (carboxymethylcellulose sodium salt), facilitating controlled and selective drug release in the acidic microenvironment of tumour cells (pH 6.3), while preserving healthy tissues. The emulsion structures prepared using Couette–Taylor flow techniques, achieved high encapsulation efficiency of DOX, stability and precise control over release kinetics. The addition of siRNA targets the genetic pathways of tumour DNA repair, sensitising cancer cells to DOX and significantly reducing their viability. Experimental results demonstrated a substantial improvement in cytotoxic efficacy, with up to a 65 % reduction in cancer cell viability compared to conventional DOX solution, further amplified to about 81 % when combined with liposomal siRNA. A mathematical model of drug diffusion and chemical reaction expressing absorption by cancer cells highlights the systems’ potential for personalising therapy by optimising drug dose and release profiles. This approach not only minimises systemic side effects but also provides a platform for targeted, efficient and more patient-friendly cancer treatment. This study establishes multiple emulsion as a promising carrier for dual-drug delivery system, bridging the gap between biological complexity and engineering precision. Future work will focus on in vivo evaluation and clinical validation to realise the potential of this approach in improving GBM patient outcomes.

Keywords: cancer treatment; multiple emulsion; delivery system; mass transfer; mathematical modelling; RNA interference
Corresponding authors: Ewa Dluska and Agnieszka Markowska-Radomska, Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, 00-645, Poland, E-mail: (E. Dluska), (A. Markowska-Radomska)
Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, 00-645, Poland

Funding source: National Science Centre – Poland

Award Identifier / Grant number: 2014/13/B/ST8/04274

Funding source: POB Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering of Warsaw University of Technology within the Excellence Initiative: Research University (IDUB) programme

Award Identifier / Grant number: BIOTECHMED-2

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the editors David Bogle and Tomasz Sosnowski for their guidance and review of this article before its publication. The authors would like to sincerely thank AIChE Journal for granting permission to use figures from the publication: Mass transfer of anti-cancer drug delivery to brain tumours by a multiple emulsion-based implant published In: Dluska E, Markowska-Radomska A, Metera A, Rudniak L, Kosicki K. Mass transfer of anti-cancer drug delivery to brain tumours by a multiple emulsion-based implant. AICHE Journal. 2022;68:1-15. doi:10.1002/aic.17501. The study was based on published results of research funded by the National Science Centre – Poland (successfully completed grant number: 2014/13/B/ST8/04274) and by (POB Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering) of Warsaw University of Technology within the Excellence Initiative: Research University (IDUB) programme (project BIOTECHMED-2).

  1. Research ethics: Not applicable.

  2. Informed consent: Not applicable.

  3. Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.

  4. Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.

  5. Conflict of interest: The authors state no conflict of interest.

  6. Research funding: The study was based on published results of research funded by the National Science Centre – Poland (successfully completed grant number: 2014/13/B/ST8/04274) and by POB Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering of Warsaw University of Technology within the Excellence Initiative: Research University (IDUB) programme (project BIOTECHMED-2).

  7. Data availability: Not applicable.

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Published Online: 2025-06-03

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https://doi.org/10.1515/psr-2024-0064
Keywords for this article
cancer treatment; multiple emulsion; delivery system; mass transfer; mathematical modelling; RNA interference

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Reviews
  3. Composites in battery casing and energy storage
  4. On the development of pharmacokinetic models for the characterisation and diagnosis of von Willebrand disease
  5. Energy efficiency and sustainability in composites industry
  6. Limitations and future outlooks for char and its composites in energy harvesting application
  7. Computational methods for advanced mass spectrometry – a review
  8. A novel strategy for brain cancer treatment through a multiple emulsion system for simultaneous therapeutics delivery
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