Functionalized Colloidal Hydroxyapatite for Combined Delivery of Cannabidiol and Epirubicin: Characterization, Biomimetic Membrane Interaction, and Cytotoxicity Studies.

Końska P.; Osial M.; Kępińska D.; Taudul J.; Wilczewski S.; Świątek E.; Majkowska-Pilip A.; Żelechowska-Matysiak K.; Nguyen T.; Krysiński P. et al. · Nanotechnology, science and applications · 2026

**Background & Methods** This study describes the development and characterization of a colloidal hydroxyapatite (cHAp) nanocarrier platform designed for combined delivery of cannabidiol (CBD) and epirubicin (EPI) to ovarian cancer cells. The researchers synthesized and functionalized cHAp particles, then evaluated their physicochemical properties, stability, drug release kinetics, membrane interactions, and anticancer efficacy using multiple analytical techniques including HPLC, electron microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, Langmuir monolayer assays, and MTS cytotoxicity assays. **Key Findings** • The cHAp platform successfully incorporated both CBD and EPI with excellent colloidal stability, achieving an epirubicin loading content of 0.0605 mg per 1 mg of cHAp and demonstrating time-dependent drug release reaching approximately 2 μg/mL after 24 hours in physiological conditions. • Functionalized cHAp systems demonstrated enhanced affinity and favorable interactions with model lipid monolayers mimicking both healthy and cancerous cell membranes, suggesting improved cellular targeting and penetration potential. • The CBD-EPI co-loaded cHAp significantly reduced ovarian cancer cell viability compared to free drugs and non-functionalized carriers, indicating synergistic anticancer effects of the combined delivery approach. **Dosage & Administration** Not reported. This is a preclinical characterization study without clinical dosing protocols or administration routes specified for therapeutic use. **Safety & Adverse Effects** Not reported. This investigation focused on in vitro cytotoxicity assessments and physicochemical characterization. No safety studies, toxicological profiles, or adverse effect data in biological systems were presented. **Evidence Quality** This is a bench-level pharmaceutical science study with significant limitations regarding clinical translation. The evidence is limited to in vitro cell culture models and does not include animal studies, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, or clinical trials. The study represents early-stage nanoformulation development with promising proof-of-concept results but provides no evidence for human efficacy or safety. The findings are restricted to ovarian cancer cell lines and cannot be generalized to other cancer types or patient populations. While the technical characterization is thorough, the lack of in vivo validation substantially limits the clinical applicability of these results.

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