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Biomolecules
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Advances in Nano-Based Drug Delivery Systems
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Advances in Nano-Based Drug Delivery Systems

A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 June 2026 | Viewed by 11126

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Amalendu P. Ranjan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA
Interests: nanomedicine; nanotechnology; nanoparticles; biomaterials; nano/microparticle technologies; drug delivery systems; membrane clocked nanoparticle; exosome; micelle; liposome; sustained release; PLGA nanoparticle
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Nirupama A. Sabnis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA
Interests: HDL; rHDL; nanomedicine; nanotechnology; nanoparticles; drug delivery systems
Prof. Dr. Zacharias Suntres

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Medical Sciences Division, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 5E1, Canada
Interests: liposomes; drug delivery systems; antioxidants; antibacterial; anti-inflammatory; chemotherapeutic agents; natural products
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nano-based drug delivery systems are a rapidly evolving area of science, playing a critical role in the discovery of novel treatments for chronic human diseases. Recent advancements in this field have led to significant technological progress, enabling precise disease diagnosis, targeted therapeutic delivery, and even the integration of diagnosis with therapy. These developments are poised to revolutionize nanomedicine and pave the way for disease-specific therapies.

This Special Issue of Biomolecules will focus on the latest advancements in nano-based drug delivery systems for diagnosis, imaging, and therapy in the treatment of human diseases. It will also explore the challenges associated with developing these systems. The issue will cover various types of drug delivery systems applicable to human disease treatment and welcomes both original research articles and comprehensive review articles that propose innovative approaches or provide insightful overviews.

Dr. Amalendu P. Ranjan
Dr. Nirupama A. Sabnis
Prof. Dr. Zacharias Suntres
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Biomolecules 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 2700 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

  • drug delivery system
  • nanotechnology
  • nanomedicine
  • nanocarriers
  • nanoparticles
  • nanoformulation
  • biomolecules

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

20 pages, 5666 KB  
Article
Mesenchymal Stem Cell Exosome-Mediated Delivery of Paclitaxel for Pancreatic Cancer Therapy
by Anurag Banerjee, Arpita Ghosal, Paras Mani Giri, Sakurako Tani, Yongki Choi and Buddhadev Layek
Biomolecules 2026, 16(2), 269; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom16020269 - 9 Feb 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 890
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the most aggressive malignancies, with limited response to conventional chemotherapies such as paclitaxel (PTX) due to poor solubility, low bioavailability, and systemic toxicity. To address these limitations, this study explores mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived exosomes as [...] Read more.
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the most aggressive malignancies, with limited response to conventional chemotherapies such as paclitaxel (PTX) due to poor solubility, low bioavailability, and systemic toxicity. To address these limitations, this study explores mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived exosomes as biocompatible, tumor-homing nanocarriers for PTX delivery. Exosomes were isolated from MSC-conditioned media using ultracentrifugation and tangential flow filtration (TFF), with TFF yielding 8 to 9-fold higher exosome recovery. Flow cytometry confirmed the presence of exosomal (CD63, CD81) and MSC (CD90) surface markers, while transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering revealed spherical vesicles averaging ~160 nm in diameter with a zeta potential of approximately −28 mV. PTX was loaded into exosomes using ultrasonication, achieving an encapsulation efficiency of 31.3 ± 2.0%, and release studies showed an initial burst within 24 h followed by sustained release over 7 days. Blank exosomes exhibited no cytotoxicity toward PANC-1, BxPC-3, and HPNE cells, confirming their excellent biocompatibility. In contrast, PTX-loaded exosomes significantly enhanced cytotoxicity compared to free PTX, reducing IC50 values from 12.48 nM to 7.55 nM in BxPC-3 cells and from 22.44 nM to 19.29 nM in PANC-1 cells and suppressed colony formation and spheroid growth more effectively. These findings demonstrate that MSC-derived exosomes can efficiently encapsulate and deliver PTX, enhancing its antitumor efficacy. This exosome-based platform offers a promising strategy to overcome pharmacological barriers and improve therapeutic outcomes in PDAC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Nano-Based Drug Delivery Systems)
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24 pages, 23608 KB  
Article
Synergistic Effects of Silica Nanoparticles, Chitosan and Bacillus velezensis AAHM-BV2301 on the Growth, Immunity, Gut Microbiota and Disease Resistance of Asian Seabass (Lates calcarifer)
by Jasper Kit Tangal, Anurak Uchuwittayakul, Kriengkrai Satapornvanit and Prapansak Srisapoome
Biomolecules 2026, 16(1), 88; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom16010088 - 5 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 734
Abstract
In this study, the synergistic effects of dietary Bacillus velezensis AAHM-BV2301, silica nanoparticles (SiNPs), and chitosan (CS) on the growth performance, innate immunity, gut microbiota, and disease resistance of Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) fingerlings were evaluated. A total of 400 fish [...] Read more.
In this study, the synergistic effects of dietary Bacillus velezensis AAHM-BV2301, silica nanoparticles (SiNPs), and chitosan (CS) on the growth performance, innate immunity, gut microbiota, and disease resistance of Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) fingerlings were evaluated. A total of 400 fish (11.25 ± 2.12 g) were assigned to five dietary treatments for 30 days: control, BV (1 × 108 CFU/kg feed), BVSiNP (1 × 108 CFU/kg + 2 mg SiNP/kg), BVCS (1 × 108 CFU/kg + 15 g CS/kg), and BVSiNPCS (combined additives at the same concentrations). The growth indices (WG, SGR, RGR, and FCR) significantly increased in the fish fed BVSiNPs, whereas the level of innate immunity increased across all the supplemented groups, with BVCS and BVSiNPCS having the strongest respiratory burst and lysozyme activities. The tissue-specific modulation of immune-related genes (α2M, HSP70, Mx, and C3) was most pronounced in BVSiNP-fed fish, particularly in the gills and liver. Gut microbiome profiling revealed enrichment of Cetobacterium somerae in response to BV-based treatments, whereas BVSiNPCS induced the greatest increase in microbial richness and network connectivity. Postchallenge survival against Vibrio vulnificus was significantly greater in the BV and BVSiNP groups (p < 0.05). Overall, SiNPs acted as functional enhancers of the B. velezensis probiotic, supporting improved growth, immune activation, and microbiota restructuring. These results highlight the potential of nanoparticle-integrated synbiotics for microbiome-targeted health management in aquaculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Nano-Based Drug Delivery Systems)
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17 pages, 1501 KB  
Article
Development and Characterization of Cannabidiol Self-Emulsifying Drug Delivery System: In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation
by Nourhan Mostafa, Iman E. Taha, Noha M. Abourobe and Eman A. Ashour
Biomolecules 2026, 16(1), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom16010021 - 23 Dec 2025
Viewed by 864
Abstract
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive phyto-cannabinoid with numerous pharmacological potentials. CBD is a lipophilic drug with poor and varied bioavailability due to its low water solubility and extensive first-pass metabolism, and it is highly affected by the presence of food. A self-emulsifying drug [...] Read more.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive phyto-cannabinoid with numerous pharmacological potentials. CBD is a lipophilic drug with poor and varied bioavailability due to its low water solubility and extensive first-pass metabolism, and it is highly affected by the presence of food. A self-emulsifying drug delivery system (SEDDS) was developed to improve the aqueous solubility and oral bioavailability of CBD. The formulation strategy involved incorporating excipients that maintain drug solubility under both fasted and fed conditions, while potentially mitigating first-pass metabolism to enhance overall bioavailability and dose proportionality. Caproyl® 90, Tween® 20, and Transcutol® HP were selected as the oil phase, surfactant, and cosolvent, respectively, for formulation preparation and screening. CBD SEDDS formulations containing Caproyl® 90 ≤20% w/w and Tween® 20 above 40% w/w yield particles below 200 nm. CBD SEDDS with Tween® 20 65% w/w or higher showed in vitro release of more than 90%. After in vitro digestion, CTT1, CTT4, and CTT8 remained stable under gastrointestinal conditions and maintained CBD solubility of at least 50%. The most promising formulations, CTT4 and CTT8, were used for in vivo evaluations. Both formulations showed similar in vitro results; however, in vivo, CTT4 demonstrated 2.4-fold higher bioavailability than CTT8. Overall, optimizing the level of inhibitory surfactant appears to be a promising strategy for improving CBD bioavailability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Nano-Based Drug Delivery Systems)
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18 pages, 2522 KB  
Article
Therapeutic Effect of Selenium Nanoparticles, Sorafenib, and Selenium–Sorafenib Nanocomplex in the Lungs and Kidneys of Mice with TAA-Induced HCC
by Egor A. Turovsky, Sergey V. Gudkov and Elena G. Varlamova
Biomolecules 2025, 15(9), 1336; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15091336 - 18 Sep 2025
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1474
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma is a primary malignant tumor of the liver, which is a serious health problem due to its aggressive nature, late diagnosis, and metastasis to other organs. We present, for the first time, the mRNA expression patterns of a wide range of [...] Read more.
Hepatocellular carcinoma is a primary malignant tumor of the liver, which is a serious health problem due to its aggressive nature, late diagnosis, and metastasis to other organs. We present, for the first time, the mRNA expression patterns of a wide range of genes involved in inflammation, fibrosis, endoplasmic reticulum stress, various forms of cell death, and signaling cascades in the lungs and kidneys of mice with thioacetamide-induced HCC. It is known that HCC often metastasizes to the lungs, and it is also important to understand which pathological processes occur in the kidneys, since the liver and kidneys are key target organs of toxicity. The main goal of this work was to study the pathological processes in the lungs and kidneys in HCC and the effectiveness of selenium nanocomplexes, as well as the well-known drug sorafenib, in mitigating these pathological consequences. These results present a significant contribution to the study of HCC metastasis to the lungs and kidneys and to the development of drugs that are most effective in the late stages of HCC. In addition, a hierarchy of the distribution of the selenium in the liver, kidneys, and lungs was established after the treatment of mice with HCC with selenium nanoparticles and a selenium–sorafenib nanocomplex. These data are important for developing a treatment protocol and determining optimal dosages of the drugs under study, which allows for achieving the desired therapeutic effect and neutralizing the toxic effect of selenium on healthy tissues and organs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Nano-Based Drug Delivery Systems)
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Review

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20 pages, 1593 KB  
Review
Nano-Engineered Delivery of the Pro-Apoptotic KLA Peptide: Strategies, Synergies, and Future Directions
by Yunmi Cho, Ha Gyeong Kim and Eun-Taex Oh
Biomolecules 2026, 16(1), 74; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom16010074 - 2 Jan 2026
Viewed by 825
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides have been increasingly recognized as potential anticancer agents, with the KLA peptide (KLAKLAK2) being one of the most well-known and successful examples. The research interest in the KLA peptide is attributed to its ability to induce apoptosis in cancer [...] Read more.
Antimicrobial peptides have been increasingly recognized as potential anticancer agents, with the KLA peptide (KLAKLAK2) being one of the most well-known and successful examples. The research interest in the KLA peptide is attributed to its ability to induce apoptosis in cancer cells by disrupting the mitochondrial membrane. However, the KLA peptide exhibits poor cellular uptake and it lacks targeting specificity, limiting its clinical potential in cancer therapy. In this review, recent advances in nano-engineered delivery platforms for overcoming the limitations of KLA peptides and enhancing their anticancer efficacy are discussed. Specifically, various nanocarrier systems that enable targeted delivery, controlled release and/or improved bioavailability, including pH-responsive nanosystems, photo-chemo combination liposomes, self-assembled peptide-based nanostructures, nanogel-based delivery systems, homing domain-conjugated KLA structures, inorganic-based nanoparticles, and biomimetic nanocarriers, are highlighted. Additionally, synergistic strategies for combining KLA with chemotherapeutic agents or immunotherapeutic agents to overcome resistance mechanisms in cancer cells are examined. Finally, key challenges for the clinical application of these nanotechnologies are summarized and future directions are proposed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Nano-Based Drug Delivery Systems)
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25 pages, 1099 KB  
Review
Bispecific Antibody and Antibody-Drug Conjugate as Novel Candidates for Treating Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
by Hyeryeon Seo, Dabin Go, Se Young Jung, Shinwoo Han, Van Quy Nguyen, Minseok Kwak and Wooram Um
Biomolecules 2025, 15(10), 1477; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15101477 - 20 Oct 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 5681
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal cancers, characterized by a dense and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. With the limited actions of drugs and conventional monovalent antibodies, the success of existing cancer therapies is restricted so far. Recently, bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) [...] Read more.
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal cancers, characterized by a dense and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. With the limited actions of drugs and conventional monovalent antibodies, the success of existing cancer therapies is restricted so far. Recently, bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) have emerged as a promising therapeutic platform, capable of overcoming the limitations of current PDAC treatments by engaging T cells and delivering drugs to multiple targets in a selective manner. Furthermore, the recruitment of additional payloads expands their therapeutic potential, offering more selective drug delivery and presenting new possibilities for treating PDAC. However, a limited number of relevant studies and a lack of comprehensive research have hindered trials for the development of BsAbs and bispecific antibody-drug conjugates (BsADCs) in PDAC therapeutics. This review aims to provide the characteristics of BsAbs and BsADCs and their recent applications in PDAC treatment. Additionally, frequent targets of PDAC treatments will be discussed to suggest how to design BsAbs and BsADCs for PDAC treatments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Nano-Based Drug Delivery Systems)
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