Editor’s choice articles are selected based on suggestions from the Academic Editors of Pharmaceutics (ISSN: 1999-4923). The Editors select a small number of published articles that they consider to be particularly interesting to our readers or important in their respective fields of research. You are therefore invited to read the editor’s choice articles, a curated list of high-quality articles published in Pharmaceutics in February. The full list of editor’s choice articles can be viewed via the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/pharmaceutics/editors_choice.

1. “A Step Towards Real-Time Release Testing of Pharmaceutical Tablets: Utilization of CIELAB Color Space”
by René Brands, Trieu Nam Le, Jens Bartsch and Markus Thommes
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(3), 311; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17030311
Editor’s highlight: Authors developed a promising UV/Vis spectroscopy tool for real-time release in tableting, based entirely on mechanical models and capturing both the chemical composition and physical properties of the tablets such as porosity and tensile strength. This development can help to optimize the ejection position of a rotary tablet press. Interestingly, this system uses the in-line monitoring of physical tablet properties. Specifically, tablet porosity and tablet hardness are investigated in terms of tensile strength. Also, the system described by Brands and co-authors characterizes the tablet’s surface roughness by using a laser profilometer.

2. “C24 Ceramide Lipid Nanoparticles for Skin Wound Healing”
by Ji-Hye Lee, Jin-Hyun Kim, Tong-Il Hyeon, Khee-Tae Min, Se-Young Lee, Han-Chul Ko, Hong-Seok Choi, Kuk-Youn Ju, Young-Seok Cho and Tae-Jong Yoon
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(2), 242; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17020242
Editor’s highlight: C24 ceramide was successfully encapsulated into lipid nanoparticles (C24-LNPs), significantly enhancing its water solubility and bioavailability, thereby offering a new strategy for skin wound healing. It is demonstrated through systematic in vitro and in vivo experiments that a C24-LNP effectively promotes keratinocyte proliferation and migration, activates the AKT/ERK signaling pathways, and accelerates epithelial regeneration and collagen synthesis, outperforming traditional EGF protein therapy. The research not only addresses the formulation challenges associated with the clinical application of ceramides but also sets the foundation for developing cost-effective and efficient skin regeneration therapies.

3. “Innovations in Cancer Therapy: Endogenous Stimuli-Responsive Liposomes as Advanced Nanocarriers”
by Jazmín Torres, Johanna Karina Valenzuela Oses, Antonio María Rabasco-Álvarez, María Luisa González-Rodríguez and Mónica Cristina García
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(2), 245; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17020245
Editor’s highlight: This review provides a systematic summary of the latest advances in endogenous stimuli-responsive liposomes for cancer treatment. The article is well-structured, offering detailed explorations of various smart liposomes, including pH-, enzyme-, redox-, reactive oxygen species (ROS)-, and hypoxia-responsive systems, and further elaborates on the design strategies and application advantages of dual- and multi-stimuli-responsive systems that integrate multiple triggers. A notable strength of this review lies in its focus not only on the design principles and response mechanisms of liposomes but also on their specific anti-cancer applications. It presents numerous cutting-edge research examples such as the co-delivery of multiple drugs and combination immunotherapy, demonstrating the significant potential of these nanocarriers in enhancing targeting efficiency, reducing side effects, and overcoming drug resistance. In addition, the article looks forward to emerging directions such as trackable liposomes with integrated diagnostic and therapeutic functions, reflecting the field's trend toward precision medicine. Overall, this review is comprehensive and insightful, successfully integrating fundamental design, mechanisms of action, and practical applications. It offers valuable perspectives on endogenous stimuli-responsive liposomes and serves as an important reference for researchers involved in cancer nanomedicine development.

4. “Hydrogels and Nanogels: Pioneering the Future of Advanced Drug Delivery Systems”
by Ernesto J. Delgado-Pujol, Guillermo Martínez, David Casado-Jurado, Juan Vázquez, Jesús León-Barberena, David Rodríguez-Lucena, Yadir Torres, Ana Alcudia and Belén Begines
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(2), 215; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17020215
Editor’s highlight: This is a comprehensive review of the usefulness of hydrogels and nanogels in developing smart drug delivery systems, updated to include the latest research.
These emerging materials are used for controlled and targeted drug release, making treatments smarter, more precise, and tailored to each patient. This interesting and thorough review explores their evolution, production methods, release mechanisms, and pharmaceutical applications, demonstrating their potential to transform personalised medicine. Although challenges in manufacturing and regulation remain, the future looks promising for smarter, more precise, and patient-centred therapies.

5. ”AI-Driven Innovation in Skin Kinetics for Transdermal Drug Delivery: Overcoming Barriers and Enhancing Precision”
by Nubul Albayati, Sesha Rajeswari Talluri, Nirali Dholaria and Bozena Michniak-Kohn
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(2), 188; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17020188
Editor’s highlight: This review explores how is AI changing transdermal drug delivery. Recent breakthroughs have deepened our understanding of how the skin acts as a barrier—and how to overcome it for more effective therapies. But developing truly personalized TDDS means considering factors like skin type, body area, age, and hydration. The review explores how advanced models—like neural networks and machine learning algorithms—are making it easier to predict skin permeability and select the best TDDS for each situation.

6. “Emerging Trends in Snake Venom-Loaded Nanobiosystems for Advanced Medical Applications: A Comprehensive Overview”
by Álisson E. F. Alves,  Anne B. C. Barros, Lindomara C. F. Silva, Lucas M. M. Carvalho, Graziela M. A. Pereira, Ana F. C. Uchôa, José M. Barbosa-Filho, Marcelo S. Silva, Karla P. O. Luna, Karla S. R. Soares et al.
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(2), 204; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17020204
Editor’s highlight: In the 16th century, Paracelsus said, “All substances are poisons; there is none that is not a poison. It is the dose that differentiates a poison from a remedy.” This interesting and original review explores how dangerous poisons can be transformed into potential therapies for treating certain diseases using nanotechnology. The main composition of snake venom, its utility, and the associated challenges are discussed in the text. It also discusses the most commonly used nanosystems for immobilising snake venom and how nanoparticles can reduce toxicity and improve treatment precision. The review demonstrates the great potential of nanosystems in developing safer and more effective therapies based on these substances.

7. “Development of an Innovative Dual Construct for Targeted Drug Delivery in the Oral Cavity”
by Elena Mazzinelli, Ilaria Favuzzi, Marianna Messina, Giorgia Fratocchi, Federica Vincenzoni, Eleonora Santo Stefano, Francesco Cecconi, Carlo Lajolo, Alessia Basco, Raffaella Castagnola et al.
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(2), 272; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17020272
Editor’s highlight: The research article, entitled 'Development of an Innovative Dual Construct for Targeted Drug Delivery in the Oral Cavity', investigates new approaches to treating oral lichen planus based on innovative buccal drug delivery systems. Current oral treatments are often limited in effectiveness by natural barriers such as mucus layers and constant saliva flow, which is especially challenging for chronic conditions such as oral lichen planus, where patient compliance and drug permanence in the oral cavity are critical. In this study, the authors present an innovative dual drug delivery system designed to address these challenges and control drug delivery, thereby improving residence time. They propose using PLGA nanoparticles loaded with dexamethasone to enable controlled drug release and effective cellular uptake, and chitosan-coated PLA fibres to provide strong mucoadhesion and ensure that the formulation stays in place, even under simulated saliva flow.