Study: CBD-Loaded Biohybrid Micelles Show Enhanced Anti-Cancer Effects in Colon Cancer Cells

OG article by Anthony Martinelli

December 26, 2025

A recent study in Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics explored CBD-loaded biohybrid micelles for enhanced anti-cancer activity in colon cancer. Researchers from East China University of Science and Technology developed micelles using polyethylene glycol, chitosan, bile acid, and quercetin to overcome CBD's poor solubility, low bioavailability, and non-targeted distribution.

In vitro tests on HCT116, HT29, and Caco-2 colon cancer cell lines showed dose-dependent reductions in cell viability, with the micelle formulation achieving lower IC50 values than free CBD, indicating superior potency—strongest in HCT116 cells.

The micelles promoted apoptosis via elevated caspase-3/7 activity, upregulated Bax, and downregulated Bcl-2 proteins, as measured by ELISA. pH-sensitive release profiles over 72 hours demonstrated sequential delivery: fastest for bile acid, then quercetin, and slowest for CBD, enabling colon-targeted therapy with minimal systemic exposure.

This biohybrid system offers improved intestinal absorption, controlled release, and synergistic effects from components. The approach addresses key delivery challenges, showing promise for multimodal colon cancer treatment. However, results are from cell models only, warranting further preclinical and clinical validation to translate findings into therapeutic applications.