Methods and Delivery Systems for Improving Drug Bioavailability

Dear Colleagues,

The efficacy of drugs is often limited by their physicochemical properties such as very low or very high water solubility, leading to low absorption and thus low ability to reach systemic circulation. As well, their efficacy might be limited by their pharmacokinetic profile, encountering problems for reaching their therapeutic target at sufficient concentration and time.

To counteract these limitations, several strategies have been developed, including novel formulation systems based on micro- or nanostructured materials, which aim to increase drug stability and absorption, and can provide a controlled drug release, modifying the biopharmaceutical and pharmacokinetic profile. Formulations can be designed for oral delivery or for other routes of administration such as topical application (including transdermal, buccal, and sublingual mucosae), which avoid the first pass metabolism, and therefore increase drug bioavailability. As well, mechanically assisted techniques, such as microneedles, permit creating microchannels through the skin, through which the drug can permeate at a higher speed and to a higher extent. Finally, other mechanically assisted techniques such as ultrasound-stimulated microbubbles (cavitation) can help disrupt tissues such as the blood-brain barrier to permit the permeation of drugs to the Central Nervous System.

This special issue will cover topics including the design, development and characterization of new formulation systems, including nanostructured and microstructured materials, for oral or other routes of administration, mechanically-assisted techniques, or biopharmaceutic and pharmacokinetic studies, to show the progress achieved in improving the bioavailability of drugs.

This special issue is open for original research and review articles. We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Mireia Mallandrich
Dr. David Limón
Guest Editors

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