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Abstract

Improving Anticancer Activity of Flubendazole via Inclusion Complexes with Randomly Methylated β-Cyclodextrin †

by
Ramona Pârvănescu
1,2,
Tamara Maksimović
2,3,*,
Codruța Șoica
2,3 and
Cristina Trandafirescu
1,2
1
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timișoara, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
2
Research Center for Experimental Pharmacology and Drug Design, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
3
Department of Pharmacology-Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timișoara, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
Presented at the International Conference on Interdisciplinary Approaches and Emerging Trends in Pharmaceutical Doctoral Research: Innovation and Integration, 1st edition, Hybrid, 7–9 July 2025.
Proceedings 2025, 127(1), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2025127009
Published: 19 September 2025
(This article belongs to the Proceedings of International Conference on Interdisciplinary Approaches and Emerging Trends in Pharmaceutical Doctoral Research: Innovation and Integration)
Versions Notes

Flubendazole is a benzimidazole derivative used as an anthelmintic. The drug has recently regained attention in oncology due to its promising anticancer effects mediated by diverse molecular mechanisms [1]. It has a poor aqueous solubility, which impairs its bioavailability. Cyclodextrins, especially randomly methylated β-cyclodextrin (RMβCD), are widely utilized to improve the unfavorable physicochemical and biopharmaceutical properties of drugs through inclusion complex formation [2].
This study aims to develop and characterize inclusion complexes of flubendazole with RMβCD and evaluate their influence on physicochemical behavior and anticancer potential. Complexes were obtained using the physical mixture and kneading method in various molar ratios. Physicochemical characterization of flubendazole and its complexes was performed by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, and the biological activity was evaluated in vitro on human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and human malignant melanoma (A375). Viability was assessed using the Alamar Blue assay, while apoptotic changes were visualized via immunofluorescence staining.
The physicochemical characterization of inclusion complexes showed the entrapment of the active substance in the cyclodextrin’s cavity. Flubendazole exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity on A375 cells, which was attenuated after complexation with RMβCD. The complexes induced lower toxicity on HaCaT cells compared to the pure drug. These findings support the potential of flubendazole–RMβCD inclusion complexes as a formulation strategy for use in oncology.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, R.P. and C.T.; methodology, R.P.; software, R.P.; validation, C.T. and C.Ș.; formal analysis, T.M. and R.P.; investigation, R.P.; resources, C.T.; data curation, R.P. and T.M.; writing—original draft preparation, R.P.; writing—review and editing, C.T.; visualization, C.Ș.; supervision, C.T. and C.Ș.; project administration, C.Ș.; funding acquisition, C.T. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

We would like to acknowledge the “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara for their support in covering the costs of publication for this research paper.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

The original contributions are included in the abstract, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

  1. Xing, X.; Zhou, Z.; Peng, H.; Cheng, S. Anticancer role of flubendazole: Effects and molecular mechanisms (Review). Oncol. Lett. 2024, 28, 558. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  2. Păduraru, D.N.; Niculescu, A.-G.; Bolocan, A.; Andronic, O.; Grumezescu, A.M.; Bîrlă, R. An Updated Overview of Cyclodextrin-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Cancer Therapy. Pharmaceutics 2022, 14, 1748. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
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MDPI and ACS Style

Pârvănescu, R.; Maksimović, T.; Șoica, C.; Trandafirescu, C. Improving Anticancer Activity of Flubendazole via Inclusion Complexes with Randomly Methylated β-Cyclodextrin. Proceedings 2025, 127, 9. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2025127009

AMA Style

Pârvănescu R, Maksimović T, Șoica C, Trandafirescu C. Improving Anticancer Activity of Flubendazole via Inclusion Complexes with Randomly Methylated β-Cyclodextrin. Proceedings. 2025; 127(1):9. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2025127009

Chicago/Turabian Style

Pârvănescu, Ramona, Tamara Maksimović, Codruța Șoica, and Cristina Trandafirescu. 2025. "Improving Anticancer Activity of Flubendazole via Inclusion Complexes with Randomly Methylated β-Cyclodextrin" Proceedings 127, no. 1: 9. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2025127009

APA Style

Pârvănescu, R., Maksimović, T., Șoica, C., & Trandafirescu, C. (2025). Improving Anticancer Activity of Flubendazole via Inclusion Complexes with Randomly Methylated β-Cyclodextrin. Proceedings, 127(1), 9. https://doi.org/10.3390/proceedings2025127009

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