MSc Thesis Defense: Ahmet Baki Şahin, ENHANCING THE PARACELLULAR PERMEABILITY OF DOXORUBICIN-LOADED NIOSOMES VIA MELITTIN-INDUCED BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER DISRUPTION, Date & Time: 16 July, 2026 – 12:00 PM, Place: FMAN G013

ENHANCING THE PARACELLULAR PERMEABILITY OF DOXORUBICIN-LOADED NIOSOMES VIA MELITTIN-INDUCED BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER DISRUPTION

Ahmet Baki Şahin
Molecular Biology, Genetics and Bioengineering, MSc Thesis, 2026

Thesis Jury

    Asst. Prof. Nur Mustafaoğlu Varol (Thesis Advisor)

Prof. Levent Öztürk

  Asst. Prof. Deniz Sezlev Bilecen

Date & Time: July 16th, 2026 –12:00 PM

Place: FMAN G013

Keywords : niosome, melittin, glioblastoma, blood-brain barrier, paracellular

enhancement

Abstract

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a highly selective membrane that protects the brain from harmful substances in the systemic circulation. While this protective function is essential, it also poses a significant challenge for delivering therapeutics to brain. To overcome this challenge, this thesis investigates a sequential therapeutic strategy; utilizing the melittin to achieve reversible BBB opening and followed by the administration of doxorubicin-loaded niosomes during the barrier recovery phase. The kinetic of the melittin-induced BBB disruption and recover phase were characterized using in vitro Glioblastoma-BBB model. Findings demonstrate that low dose melittin effectively increases paracellular permeability by transiently modulating the BBB without permanent damage. Moreover, administrated doxorubicin-loaded niosome within the recovery period significantly enhanced therapeutic accumulation in the U87 cells. This dual step approach combining melittin-induced BBB disruption and nanocarrier based drug delivery offers a promising, highly controlled and safer method for maximizing therapeutic efficacy in central nervous system drug delivery.