The Latest Development of Multifunctional Nanopharmaceutical Formulations and Its Application

A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Physical Pharmacy and Formulation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2023) | Viewed by 9402

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai 264209, China
Interests: fabrication of multifunctional pharmaceutical formulations and overcoming barriers in oral/transdermal drug delivery

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Guest Editor
Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
Interests: development of targeted drug delivery systems for neurodegenerative diseases and cancer therapy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Due to their high surface area, high saturation solubility and adjustable surface, nanopharmaceuticals, including liposome, polymeric micelles, dendrimers, quantum dots, nanocrystals, etc., have attracted the attention of many researchers in the pharmaceutical fields. Multifunctional agents modified on the surface of various nanoparticles have stimulated the development of pharmaceutical applications, such as passive or active ligands, with both their imaging and therapeutic capabilities, thus allowing simultaneous monitoring and treatment. The rational design and evaluation of multifunctional nanopharmaceuticals with improved drug efficiency, transportation of the drug across physiological barriers and reduced drug-related toxicity will accelerate the development of drugs from lab to clinical applications.

The aim of this Special Issue is to deliver an up-to-date overview on multifunctional nanopharmaceutical formulations fabricated with novel multifunctional agents and technologies, and to explore their applications in the treatment of various diseases via oral, dermal, transdermal and nasal delivery routines, establishing increased effectiveness and safety in drug therapy, among other applications.

Dr. Xiaoqing Miao
Dr. Tongkai Chen
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • multifunctional modification
  • nanomedicine
  • drug delivery
  • physiological barriers
  • improved bioavailability
  • biomedical applications
  • microneedles

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 4000 KiB  
Article
Hyaluronidase Promote Transdermal Diffusion of Small Sized Curcumin Nanocrystal by Dissolving Microneedles Delivery
by Xiaoqing Miao, Jingru Zhao, Hong Xiang and Xiaoxi Shi
Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(3), 788; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15030788 - 27 Feb 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2135
Abstract
Hyaluronidase is clinically used in treating many skin diseases due to its good permeability-promoting effect, which may motivate the diffusion and absorption of drugs. To verify the penetration osmotic effect of hyaluronidase in microneedles, 55 nm-size curcumin nanocrystals were fabricated and loaded into [...] Read more.
Hyaluronidase is clinically used in treating many skin diseases due to its good permeability-promoting effect, which may motivate the diffusion and absorption of drugs. To verify the penetration osmotic effect of hyaluronidase in microneedles, 55 nm-size curcumin nanocrystals were fabricated and loaded into microneedles containing hyaluronidase in the tip. Microneedles with bullet shape and backing layer of 20% PVA + 20% PVP K30 (w/v) showed excellent performance. The microneedles were able to pierce the skin effectively with a skin insert rate of 90% and demonstrated good mechanical strength. In the in vitro permeation assay, with the increase of hyaluronidase concentration at the tip of the needle, the cumulative release of curcumin increased, as well as the skin retention decreased. In addition, compared with the microneedles without hyaluronidase, the microneedles containing hyaluronidase in the tip exhibited a larger drug diffusion area and deeper diffusion depth. In conclusion, hyaluronidase could effectively promote the transdermal diffusion and absorption of the drug. Full article
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39 pages, 11766 KiB  
Review
Innovative Strategies for Hair Regrowth and Skin Visualization
by Qiuying Mai, Yanhua Han, Guopan Cheng, Rui Ma, Zhao Yan, Xiaojia Chen, Guangtao Yu, Tongkai Chen and Shu Zhang
Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(4), 1201; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15041201 - 10 Apr 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 6847
Abstract
Today, about 50% of men and 15–30% of women are estimated to face hair-related problems, which create a significant psychological burden. Conventional treatments, including drug therapy and transplantation, remain the main strategies for the clinical management of these problems. However, these treatments are [...] Read more.
Today, about 50% of men and 15–30% of women are estimated to face hair-related problems, which create a significant psychological burden. Conventional treatments, including drug therapy and transplantation, remain the main strategies for the clinical management of these problems. However, these treatments are hindered by challenges such as drug-induced adverse effects and poor drug penetration due to the skin’s barrier. Therefore, various efforts have been undertaken to enhance drug permeation based on the mechanisms of hair regrowth. Notably, understanding the delivery and diffusion of topically administered drugs is essential in hair loss research. This review focuses on the advancement of transdermal strategies for hair regrowth, particularly those involving external stimulation and regeneration (topical administration) as well as microneedles (transdermal delivery). Furthermore, it also describes the natural products that have become alternative agents to prevent hair loss. In addition, given that skin visualization is necessary for hair regrowth as it provides information on drug localization within the skin’s structure, this review also discusses skin visualization strategies. Finally, it details the relevant patents and clinical trials in these areas. Together, this review highlights the innovative strategies for skin visualization and hair regrowth, aiming to provide novel ideas to researchers studying hair regrowth in the future. Full article
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