Development and Preclinical Evaluation of Docetaxel-loaded Micelles for Glioblastoma Treatment

Júlia German-Cortés – PhD student, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute; Narine Fischer-Albiol – Master Student, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute; Sandra Mancilla – Technichian, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute; Belén García – Technichian, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute; Zamira V. Diaz-Riascos – Principal Investigator, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute; Cláudia Martins – Post-Doctoral Researcher, I3S; Simó Schwartz – Principal Investigator, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute; Roser Ferrer Costa – Group Leader, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute; Ibane Abasolo – Group Leader, IQAC; Pilar Sánchez-Gomez – Group Leader, ISCIII; Bruno Sarmento – Group Leader, I3S; Diana Rafael – Principal Investigator, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute

Introduction:

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive primary brain tumor, associated with poor prognosis, high recurrence, and limited survival. Treatment failure is largely due to restricted drug penetration across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and rapid therapeutic resistance¹. Docetaxel (DTX) is a potent antimitotic agent, but its application in GBM is limited by low aqueous solubility and insufficient brain exposure². Nanomedicine-based strategies integrating rational carrier design, in silico tools, and biological targeting may help overcome these barriers and improve therapeutic efficacy³.