Current Research on Polymeric Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery Applications

A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2025 | Viewed by 1815

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
College of Pharmacy, Howard University, 2300 4th St NW, Washington, DC 20059, USA
Interests: nanotechnology for drug delivery and theranostic applications; stimuli-sensitive polymeric drug delivery systems; targeted delivery systems and targeted drug conjugates; concurrent and sequential active targeting to tumors

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Guest Editor
School of Applied Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton and Hove BN2 4GJ, UK
Interests: pharmaceutical nanotechnology; cancer therapy; drug repurposing; peptide-based therapeutics; drug delivery

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleague,

Polymeric nanoparticles are colloidal nanostructures with the capacity to carry and deliver both diagnostic and therapeutic molecules of different physicochemical properties. The polymers used in the fabrication of these nanosystems may be natural polymers or synthetic polymers. Polymeric nanoparticles have a wide utility in drug delivery, and have been developed for the delivery of anticancer agents, vaccines, antibiotics, nucleic acids, and other bioactive molecules. Polymeric nanoparticles alter the pharmacokinetics of the loaded drugs and can be tuned to offer site-specific drug release. Additionally, they are stable in circulation and can be modified for active targeting. Furthermore, polymeric nanoparticles may be fabricated to be delivered through different routes of administration, such as IV and for drug delivery through the skin. This Special Issue is focused on current research efforts in the design, development, and characterization of polymeric nanoparticles, targeting capabilities, and the biological testing of polymeric nanoparticles.

This Special Issue aims to publish manuscripts in the following subject areas:

  • Pharmaceutical formulations;
  • Delivery and controlled-release systems for drugs, vaccines, and biopharmaceuticals;
  • Pharmaceutical process, engineering, biotechnology, and nanotechnology;
  • Devices, cells, molecular biology, and materials science related tdrugs and drug delivery;
  • Nanomedicine;
  • Drug targeting.
  • In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:
  • The fabrication/synthesis of different polymeric nanoparticle preparations as carriers of bioactive molecules;
  • Site-specific delivery or active/passive targeting mechanisms of polymeric nanoparticles including modeling;
  • Mechanisms of drug release from polymeric nanoparticles;
  • Drug coupling or encapsulation mechanisms;
  • The characterization of polymeric nanoparticles;
  • Applications of polymeric nanoparticles in drug delivery and therapy.

Dr. Simeon Kolawole Adesina
Dr. Funmilola Adesodun Fisusi
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • polymeric micelles
  • dendrimers
  • nanocapsules
  • nanospheres

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 2396 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Polymer/siRNA Nanoparticle Efficacy and Biocompatibility in 3D Air–Liquid Interface Culture Compared to 2D Cell Culture
by Sandra Noske, Martin Krueger, Alexander Ewe and Achim Aigner
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(3), 339; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17030339 - 6 Mar 2025
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Abstract
Background: Polymeric nanoparticles have been explored as efficient tools for siRNA delivery to induce RNAi-mediated gene knockdown. Chemical modifications of polyethylenimines (PEI) enhance nanoparticle efficacy and biocompatibility. Their in vivo use, however, benefits from prior analyses in relevant in vitro 3D conditions. Methods: [...] Read more.
Background: Polymeric nanoparticles have been explored as efficient tools for siRNA delivery to induce RNAi-mediated gene knockdown. Chemical modifications of polyethylenimines (PEI) enhance nanoparticle efficacy and biocompatibility. Their in vivo use, however, benefits from prior analyses in relevant in vitro 3D conditions. Methods: We utilize a 3D ALI cell culture model for testing the biological activities and toxicities of a set of different PEI-based nanoparticles with different chemical modifications. This also includes a novel, fluoroalkyl-modified PEI. Reporter gene knockdown is directly compared to 2D cell culture. In parallel, biocompatibility is assessed by measuring cell viability and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. Results: Knockdown efficacies in the 3D ALI model are dependent on the chemical modification and complex preparation conditions. Results only correlate in part with gene knockdown in 2D cell culture, identifying nanoparticle penetration and cellular internalization under 3D conditions as important parameters. The 3D ALI cell culture is also suitable for the quantitative determination of nanoparticle effects on cell viability and acute toxicity, with biocompatibility benefitting from PEI modifications. Conclusions: The 3D ALI cell model allows for a more realistic assessment of biological nanoparticle effects. A novel fluoroalkyl-modified PEI is described. Optimal preparations of PEI-based nanoparticles for siRNA delivery and gene knockdown are identified. Full article
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34 pages, 866 KiB  
Review
Anticancer Nanoparticle Carriers of the Proapoptotic Protein Cytochrome c
by Alexandar M. Zhivkov, Svetlana H. Hristova and Trifon T. Popov
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(3), 305; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17030305 - 26 Feb 2025
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Abstract
This review discusses the literature data on the synthesis, physicochemical properties, and cytotoxicity of composite nanoparticles bearing the mitochondrial protein cytochrome c (cytC), which can act as a proapoptotic mediator in addition to its main function as an electron carrier in the electron [...] Read more.
This review discusses the literature data on the synthesis, physicochemical properties, and cytotoxicity of composite nanoparticles bearing the mitochondrial protein cytochrome c (cytC), which can act as a proapoptotic mediator in addition to its main function as an electron carrier in the electron transport chain. The introduction of exogenous cytC via absorption of carrier particles, the phagocytosis of colloid particles of submicrometric size, or the receptor-mediated endocytosis of nanoparticles in cancer cells, initiates the process of apoptosis—a multistage cascade of biochemical reactions leading to complete destruction of the cells. CytC–carrier composite particles have the potential for use in the treatment of neoplasms with superficial localization: skin, mouth, stomach, colon, etc. This approach can solve the two main problems of anticancer therapy: selectivity and non-toxicity. Selectivity is based on the incapability of the normal cell to absorb (nano)particles, except for the cells of the immune system. The use of cytC as a protein that normally functions in mitochondria is harmless for the macroorganism. In this review, the factors limiting cytotoxicity and the ways to increase it are discussed from the point of view of the physicochemical properties of the cytC–carrier particles. The different techniques used for the preparation of cytC-bearing colloids and nanoparticles are discussed. Articles reporting the achievement of high cytotoxicity with each of the techniques are critically analyzed. Full article
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