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Pharmaceuticals
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Recent Advances in Polymers as Matrices for Drug Delivery Applications
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Recent Advances in Polymers as Matrices for Drug Delivery Applications

A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Pharmaceutical Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 August 2022) | Viewed by 25295

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Zoilo Gonzalez

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Guest Editor
Inorganic Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Department, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
Interests: bio-based composites; functional materials; lignocellulosic fibers; inorganic nanoparticles; polymers; colloidal processing; additive manufacturing
Dr. Juan Dominguez-Robles

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Pharmacy, Queens University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK
Interests: drug delivery; hydrogels; biomaterials; 3D printing; biomass valorization; lignin
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ana Ferrandez-Montero

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Instituto de Cerámica y Vidrio, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Campus de Cantoblanco, c/Kelsen 5, 28049 Madrid, Spain
Interests: biomaterials; biodegradable; drug delivery; in vitro; polymer composites; additive manufacturing; colloidal processing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The specific delivery of a drug to an organ, a tissue, or unhealthy cells by carriers is one of the major challenges in pharmaceutical and biomedical research. Polymeric matrices are the backbone of controlled drug delivery systems in light of clinical accomplishment. There are multiple examples of drug delivery devices, orodispersible tablets and films, solid oral dosage forms, drug-eluting stents, therapeutic contact lenses, and subcutaneous implants for prolonged drug delivery, along with microneedles for transdermal drug delivery. In recent years, researchers have paid increasing attention to surface and colloid chemistry, as well as 3D printing, and recognized its importance for the design, processing. and controlled use of advanced drug delivery formulations. Such aspects of polymer structures play an important role in current drug delivery, since the demands on delivery vehicles are increasing as regards drug release rate, drug solubilization capacity, minimization of drug degradation, reduction of drug toxicity, etc. This issue will summarize the latest findings surrounding the aspects of polymer matrices to facilitate the design and understanding of drug delivery formulations. It will cover the most relevant aspects regarding to novel compositions, advanced processing routes, and their final applications. Original research papers and review articles are welcome.

Dr. Zoilo Gonzalez
Dr. Juan Dominguez-Robles
Dr. Ana Ferrandez-Montero
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. Pharmaceuticals 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

  • polymers
  • composite biomaterials
  • drug delivery
  • colloidal chemistry
  • additive manufacturing
  • 3D printing

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

4 pages, 235 KiB  
Editorial
Recent Advances in Polymers as Matrices for Drug Delivery Applications
by Zoilo González, Ana Ferrandez-Montero and Juan Domínguez-Robles
Pharmaceuticals 2023, 16(12), 1674; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph16121674 - 1 Dec 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 776
Abstract
Polymeric-based drug delivery systems have become versatile and valuable candidates in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, health, medicine, etc [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Polymers as Matrices for Drug Delivery Applications)

Research

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16 pages, 1553 KiB  
Article
Tablets Made from Paper—An Industrially Feasible Approach
by Ayat Abdelkader, Christoph Moos, Adrien Pelloux, Marcus Pfeiffer, Christian Alter, Stefan Kolling and Cornelia M. Keck
Pharmaceuticals 2022, 15(10), 1188; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph15101188 - 26 Sep 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3912
Abstract
Many orally administrated drugs exhibit poor bioavailability due to their limited solubility. The smartFilm technology is an innovative approach to improve the drug aqueous solubility, where the drug is embedded within the matrix of cellulose-based paper in an amorphous state, hence increasing its [...] Read more.
Many orally administrated drugs exhibit poor bioavailability due to their limited solubility. The smartFilm technology is an innovative approach to improve the drug aqueous solubility, where the drug is embedded within the matrix of cellulose-based paper in an amorphous state, hence increasing its solubility. Despite its proven effectiveness, smartFilms, i.e., pieces of paper, exhibit limited flowability and are not easy to swallow, and thus oral administration is not convenient. In addition, there is a lack of knowledge of their mechanical behavior under compression. This study aimed to transform unloaded smartFilms, i.e., paper, into a flowable physical form and investigated its mechanical behavior when compressed. Granules made of paper were prepared via wet granulation and were compressed into tablets. The influence of using different amounts and forms of sucrose, as a binder, on the pharmaceutical properties of the produced granules and tablets was studied and the most suitable composition was identified by using instrumented die experiments. For this, the Poisson’s ratio and Young’s modulus were determined for different compaction force levels and the deformation behavior was estimated with the Heckel mathematical model. All granule batches showed good flowability with angle of repose values between 25–35°. Granule batches with ≤30% dry sucrose content produced tablets that fulfilled the European Pharmacopeia requirements, and the compaction behavior of the granules was found to be comparable to the behavior of classical binders and compression enhancers. Paper can be transferred into granules. These granules can be used as suitable intermediate products for the production of tablets made of paper in large, industrial scale. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Polymers as Matrices for Drug Delivery Applications)
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12 pages, 2165 KiB  
Article
Development of a Silicone-Based Polymer Matrix as a Suitable Transdermal Therapeutic System for Diallyl Disulfide
by Szabolcs László, Zsófia Hajna, Attila Egyed, Erika Pintér and Ödön Wagner
Pharmaceuticals 2022, 15(10), 1182; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph15101182 - 23 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1425
Abstract
There is an unmet need for novel therapeutic tools relieving chronic pain. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is highly involved in pain processes; however, the development of ideal matrices for sulfide donor compounds remains a great pharmaceutical challenge. We aimed to establish a [...] Read more.
There is an unmet need for novel therapeutic tools relieving chronic pain. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is highly involved in pain processes; however, the development of ideal matrices for sulfide donor compounds remains a great pharmaceutical challenge. We aimed to establish a suitable transdermal therapeutic system (TTS) using the H2S donor diallyl disulfide (DADS) as a model compound. After the preparation of DADS, its solubility was investigated in different liquid excipients (propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, silicone oil) and its membrane diffusivity was assessed in silicone matrices of different compositions. Drug-releasing properties of DADS-containing patches with different silicone oil contents were determined with Franz and flow-through cells. We found a correlation between the liquid excipient content of the patch and the diffusion rate of DADS. DADS showed the best solubility in dimethyl silicone oil, and the diffusion constant was proportional to the amount of oil above the 3 m/m% threshold value. The 8-day-old patch showed a significantly lower, but better-regulated, drug release over time than the 4-day-old one. In conclusion, the silicone-based polymer matrix developed in this study is suitable for stable storage and optimal release of DADS, providing a good basis for a TTS applied in chronic pain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Polymers as Matrices for Drug Delivery Applications)
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20 pages, 6645 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Various Poly (N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) Polymers on the Crystallization of Flutamide
by Dawid Heczko, Barbara Hachuła, Paulina Maksym, Kamil Kamiński, Andrzej Zięba, Luiza Orszulak, Marian Paluch and Ewa Kamińska
Pharmaceuticals 2022, 15(8), 971; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph15080971 - 6 Aug 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2161
Abstract
In this study, several experimental techniques were applied to probe thermal properties, molecular dynamics, crystallization kinetics and intermolecular interactions in binary mixtures (BMs) composed of flutamide (FL) and various poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) polymers, including a commercial product and, importantly, samples obtained from [...] Read more.
In this study, several experimental techniques were applied to probe thermal properties, molecular dynamics, crystallization kinetics and intermolecular interactions in binary mixtures (BMs) composed of flutamide (FL) and various poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) polymers, including a commercial product and, importantly, samples obtained from high-pressure syntheses, which differ in microstructure (defined by the tacticity of the macromolecule) from the commercial PVP. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) studies revealed a particularly large difference between the glass transition temperature (Tg) of FL+PVPsynth. mixtures with 10 and 30 wt% of the excipient. In the case of the FL+PVPcomm. system, this effect was significantly lower. Such unexpected findings for the former mixtures were strictly connected to the variation of the microstructure of the polymer. Moreover, combined DSC and dielectric measurements showed that the onset of FL crystallization is significantly suppressed in the BM composed of the synthesized polymers. Further non-isothermal DSC investigations carried out on various FL+10 wt% PVP mixtures revealed a slowing down of FL crystallization in all FL-based systems (the best inhibitor of this process was PVP Mn = 190 kg/mol). Our research indicated a significant contribution of the microstructure of the polymer on the physical stability of the pharmaceutical—an issue completely overlooked in the literature. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Polymers as Matrices for Drug Delivery Applications)
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17 pages, 4218 KiB  
Article
Fabrication and Biological Activities of Plasmid DNA Gene Carrier Nanoparticles Based on Biodegradable l-Tyrosine Polyurethane
by Soo-Yong Park, Yang H. Yun, Bum-Joon Park, Hyung-Il Seo and Ildoo Chung
Pharmaceuticals 2022, 15(1), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph15010017 - 24 Dec 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2719
Abstract
Gene therapy is a suitable alternative to chemotherapy due to the complications of drug resistance and toxicity of drugs, and is also known to reduce the occurrence of cellular mutation through the use of gene carriers. In this study, gene carrier nanoparticles with [...] Read more.
Gene therapy is a suitable alternative to chemotherapy due to the complications of drug resistance and toxicity of drugs, and is also known to reduce the occurrence of cellular mutation through the use of gene carriers. In this study, gene carrier nanoparticles with minimal toxicity and high transfection efficiency were fabricated from a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer, l-tyrosine polyurethane (LTU), which was polymerized from presynthesized desaminotyrosyl tyrosine hexyl ester (DTH) and polyethylene glycol (PEG), by using double emulsion and solvent evaporation techniques, resulting in the formation of porous nanoparticles, and then used to evaluate their potential biological activities through molecular controlled release and transfection studies. To assess cellular uptake and transfection efficiency, two model drugs, fluorescently labeled bovine serum albumin (FITC-BSA) and plasmid DNA-linear polyethylenimine (LPEI) complex, were successfully encapsulated in nanoparticles, and their transfection properties and cytotoxicities were evaluated in LX2 as a normal cell and in HepG2 and MCF7 as cancer cells. The morphology and average diameter of the LTU nanoparticles were confirmed using light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering, while confocal microscopy was used to validate the cellular uptake of FITC-BSA-encapsulated LTU nanoparticles. Moreover, the successful cellular uptake of LTU nanoparticles encapsulated with pDNA-LPEI and the high transfection efficiency, confirmed by gel electrophoresis and X-gal assay transfection, indicated that LTU nanoparticles had excellent cell adsorption ability, facilitated gene encapsulation, and showed the sustained release tendency of genes through transfection experiments, with an optimal concentration ratio of pDNA and LPEI of 1:10. All the above characteristics are ideal for gene carriers designed to transport and release drugs into the cytoplasm, thus facilitating effective gene therapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Polymers as Matrices for Drug Delivery Applications)
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15 pages, 4315 KiB  
Article
Use of 3D Printing for the Development of Biodegradable Antiplatelet Materials for Cardiovascular Applications
by Juan Domínguez-Robles, Luis Diaz-Gomez, Emilia Utomo, Tingjun Shen, Camila J. Picco, Carmen Alvarez-Lorenzo, Angel Concheiro, Ryan F. Donnelly and Eneko Larrañeta
Pharmaceuticals 2021, 14(9), 921; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph14090921 - 11 Sep 2021
Cited by 30 | Viewed by 4180
Abstract
Small-diameter synthetic vascular grafts are required for surgical bypass grafting when there is a lack of suitable autologous vessels due to different reasons, such as previous operations. Thrombosis is the main cause of failure of small-diameter synthetic vascular grafts when used for this [...] Read more.
Small-diameter synthetic vascular grafts are required for surgical bypass grafting when there is a lack of suitable autologous vessels due to different reasons, such as previous operations. Thrombosis is the main cause of failure of small-diameter synthetic vascular grafts when used for this revascularization technique. Therefore, the development of biodegradable vascular grafts capable of providing a localized and sustained antithrombotic drug release mark a major step forward in the fight against cardiovascular diseases, which are the leading cause of death globally. The present paper describes the use of an extrusion-based 3D printing technology for the production of biodegradable antiplatelet tubular grafts for cardiovascular applications. For this purpose, acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) was chosen as a model molecule due to its antiplatelet activity. Poly(caprolactone) and ASA were combined for the fabrication and characterization of ASA-loaded tubular grafts. Moreover, rifampicin (RIF) was added to the formulation containing the higher ASA loading, as a model molecule that can be used to prevent vascular prosthesis infections. The produced tubular grafts were fully characterized through multiple techniques and the last step was to evaluate their drug release, antiplatelet and antimicrobial activity and cytocompatibility. The results suggested that these materials were capable of providing a sustained ASA release for periods of up to 2 weeks. Tubular grafts containing 10% (w/w) of ASA showed lower platelet adhesion onto the surface than the blank and grafts containing 5% (w/w) of ASA. Moreover, tubular grafts scaffolds containing 1% (w/w) of RIF were capable of inhibiting the growth of Staphylococcus aureus. Finally, the evaluation of the cytocompatibility of the scaffold samples revealed that the incorporation of ASA or RIF into the composition did not compromise cell viability and proliferation at short incubation periods (24 h). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Polymers as Matrices for Drug Delivery Applications)
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Review

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26 pages, 10603 KiB  
Review
Microneedle-Based Natural Polysaccharide for Drug Delivery Systems (DDS): Progress and Challenges
by Fouad Damiri, Nagavendra Kommineni, Samuel Ogbeide Ebhodaghe, Raviteja Bulusu, Vaskuri G. S. Sainaga Jyothi, Amany A. Sayed, Aeshah A. Awaji, Mousa O. Germoush, Hamdan S. Al-malky, Mohammed Z. Nasrullah, Md. Habibur Rahman, Mohamed M. Abdel-Daim and Mohammed Berrada
Pharmaceuticals 2022, 15(2), 190; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph15020190 - 3 Feb 2022
Cited by 55 | Viewed by 8563
Abstract
In this focused progress review, the most widely accepted methods of transdermal drug delivery are hypodermic needles, transdermal patches and topical creams. However, microneedles (MNs) (or microneedle arrays) are low-invasive 3D biomedical constructs that bypass the skin barrier and produce systemic and localized [...] Read more.
In this focused progress review, the most widely accepted methods of transdermal drug delivery are hypodermic needles, transdermal patches and topical creams. However, microneedles (MNs) (or microneedle arrays) are low-invasive 3D biomedical constructs that bypass the skin barrier and produce systemic and localized pharmacological effects. In the past, biomaterials such as carbohydrates, due to their physicochemical properties, have been extensively used to manufacture microneedles (MNs). Due to their wide range of functional groups, carbohydrates enable the design and development of tunable properties and functionalities. In recent years, numerous microneedle products have emerged on the market, although much research needs to be undertaken to overcome the various challenges before the successful introduction of microneedles into the market. As a result, carbohydrate-based microarrays have a high potential to achieve a future step in sensing, drug delivery, and biologics restitution. In this review, a comprehensive overview of carbohydrates such as hyaluronic acid, chitin, chitosan, chondroitin sulfate, cellulose and starch is discussed systematically. It also discusses the various drug delivery strategies and mechanical properties of biomaterial-based MNs, the progress made so far in the clinical translation of carbohydrate-based MNs, and the promotional opportunities for their commercialization. In conclusion, the article summarizes the future perspectives of carbohydrate-based MNs, which are considered as the new class of topical drug delivery systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Polymers as Matrices for Drug Delivery Applications)
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