The 15th Anniversary of Pharmaceutics—Biotechnological Drugs: Innovations in Preparation and Delivery Strategies

A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Drug Delivery and Controlled Release".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 1366

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacy, “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
Interests: drug delivery; peptide drugs; neurodegenerative disorders; antimicrobial drug development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacy, “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
Interests: drug delivery systems; CNS drug delivery; neurodegenerative disorders
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biotechnological drugs have revolutionized the field of medicine with their remarkable therapeutic potential and targeted efficacy. These advanced therapeutic agents, derived from living organisms or synthesized through biotechnological processes, offer enhanced specificity and potency compared to traditional small-molecule drugs; however, the successful development and commercialization of biotechnological drugs heavily rely on their formulation and delivery strategies. The complex nature of these molecules necessitates the development of innovative formulation techniques that ensure optimal drug characteristics, preservation of activity, and compatibility with delivery systems.

This Special Issue aims to explore the latest advancements in the development, formulation, and delivery of biotechnological drugs. It provides a platform for researchers, scientists, and industry experts to share their cutting-edge research, novel methodologies, and successful strategies in optimizing drug formulation and delivery. The articles in this Special Issue will cover diverse aspects, including synthetic methodologies, nanotechnology-based approaches, controlled-release systems, targeted delivery methods, and emerging trends in pharmaceutical biotechnology. The insights and knowledge gained from this collection of articles will contribute to the development of safer, more effective biotechnological drugs, ultimately improving patient outcomes and advancing the field of biopharmaceuticals.

Dr. Ivana Cacciatore
Dr. Lisa Marinelli
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pharmaceutics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • therapeutic proteins
  • biotechnological drug preparation technologies
  • targeted drug delivery

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

23 pages, 3365 KiB  
Article
Development of Proniosome Gel Formulation for CHIKV Infection
by Ayça Altay Benetti, Ma Thinzar Thwin, Ahmad Suhaimi, Ryan Sia Tze Liang, Lisa Fong-Poh Ng, Fok-Moon Lum and Camillo Benetti
Pharmaceutics 2024, 16(8), 994; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics16080994 - 26 Jul 2024
Viewed by 383
Abstract
Given the increasing aging population and the rising prevalence of musculoskeletal diseases due to obesity and injury, urgent research is needed to formulate new treatment alternatives, as current options remain inadequate. Viruses can exacerbate arthritis and worsen symptoms in patients with pre-existing osteoarthritis. [...] Read more.
Given the increasing aging population and the rising prevalence of musculoskeletal diseases due to obesity and injury, urgent research is needed to formulate new treatment alternatives, as current options remain inadequate. Viruses can exacerbate arthritis and worsen symptoms in patients with pre-existing osteoarthritis. Over the past decade, the chikungunya virus (CHIKV) has emerged as a significant public health concern, especially in Asia and South America. Exploring natural products, such as berberine, has shown promise due to its anticatabolic, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory effects. However, berberine’s low stability and bioavailability limit its efficacy. We hypothesized that encapsulating berberine into a proniosome gel, known for its ease of preparation and stability, could enhance its bioavailability and efficacy when applied topically, potentially treating CHIKV infection. Our investigation focused on how varying berberine loads and selected excipients in the proniosome gel influenced its physical properties, stability, and skin permeability. We also examined the biological half-life of berberine in plasma upon topical administration in mice to assess the potential for controlled and sustained drug release. Additionally, we analyzed the antioxidant stress activity and cell viability of HaCaT keratinocytes and developed a lipopolysaccharide-stimulated cell culture model to evaluate anti-inflammatory effects using pro-inflammatory cytokines. Overall, the research aims to transform the treatment landscape for arthritis by leveraging berberine’s therapeutic potential. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

11 pages, 837 KiB  
Review
T Cell-Engaging Bispecific Antibodies Targeting gp100 and PRAME: Expanding Application from Uveal Melanoma to Cutaneous Melanoma
by Robin Reschke, Alexander H. Enk and Jessica C. Hassel
Pharmaceutics 2024, 16(8), 1046; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics16081046 - 6 Aug 2024
Viewed by 508
Abstract
Uveal melanoma represents a rare and aggressive subtype of melanoma with limited treatment options and poor prognosis, especially in the metastatic setting. Tebentafusp, a bispecific fusion protein, offers a promising therapeutic approach by targeting gp100, an antigen highly expressed in uveal melanoma cells, [...] Read more.
Uveal melanoma represents a rare and aggressive subtype of melanoma with limited treatment options and poor prognosis, especially in the metastatic setting. Tebentafusp, a bispecific fusion protein, offers a promising therapeutic approach by targeting gp100, an antigen highly expressed in uveal melanoma cells, and redirecting T cell-mediated cytotoxicity towards tumor cells. This review provides an overview of the preclinical and clinical data on tebentafusp in the management of metastatic uveal melanoma. We summarize the mechanism of action, clinical efficacy, safety profile, and ongoing research efforts surrounding this innovative immunotherapy. Preclinical studies have demonstrated the ability of tebentafusp to induce potent and specific anti-tumor immune responses against gp100-expressing uveal melanoma cells. Clinical trials have shown encouraging results, with tebentafusp exhibiting meaningful clinical activity in a subset of patients with metastatic uveal melanoma. Importantly, tebentafusp has also demonstrated a manageable safety profile. By specifically targeting tumor cells expressing gp100, tebentafusp offers a promising therapeutic avenue for individuals with metastatic uveal melanoma, meeting a significant clinical need in this context. Continued clinical trials will provide additional insights into the impact of tebentafusp on treatment-resistant metastatic cutaneous melanoma. Furthermore, we are exploring the potential of T cell engagers directed against the cancer testis antigen PRAME, which could have widespread utility in the treatment of cutaneous melanoma as well as other PRAME-expressing malignancies. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop