Fractal Analysis in Pharmacology: Theory and Application

Dear Colleagues,

Fractal analysis has become an increasingly valuable approach for investigating complex, multiscale phenomena in pharmacological systems, particularly those governed by underlying biophysical principles. Many key processes in pharmacology—such as drug–carrier interactions, transport and release mechanisms, degradation pathways and molecular or supramolecular organization—are fundamentally rooted in physical interactions occurring across multiple spatial and temporal scales. These processes often exhibit structural and dynamical features, including heterogeneity, anomalous transport and non-Gaussian dynamics, that extend beyond the scope of conventional linear or Euclidean descriptions typically employed in classical pharmacological modeling.

Fractal and multiscale methods provide robust biophysical tools for quantifying irregularity, spatial organization and scale-dependent behavior in complex biological and biomaterial-based systems. In the context of drug delivery and pharmacological function, fractal descriptors capture essential aspects of molecular diffusion in crowded biological environments, transport through heterogeneous media, interfacial phenomena at drug–carrier or drug–tissue boundaries and the emergent behavior of hierarchical biomaterial architectures.

This Special Issue aims to collect high-quality contributions addressing both the theoretical foundations and practical applications of fractal analysis in pharmacology, with particular emphasis on studies that bridge life sciences and biophysics. We welcome experimental investigations focused on the characterization of fractal properties in drug delivery systems, biomaterials, biological tissues and cellular or subcellular environments, as well as modeling, numerical and computational approaches grounded in biophysical theory that support or complement experimental observations. Contributions that integrate experimental data with fractal modeling, multiscale simulations or data-driven biophysical analysis are especially encouraged.

By bringing together researchers from mathematics, physics, life sciences and engineering, this Special Issue seeks to foster interdisciplinary exchange at the interface of biophysics and pharmacology. It aims to promote innovative quantitative methodologies that enhance the understanding of structure–function relationships, transport phenomena and dynamic processes in pharmacological systems. The Issue provides a dedicated forum for experimentalists and modelers alike to present advances that contribute to the development of more predictive, mechanistically informed and efficient pharmacological strategies.

Dr. Elena Simona Bacaita
Dr. Cǎtǎlina Anişoara Peptu
Prof. Dr. Maricel Agop
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Fractal and Fractional 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.

• fractal analysis
• pharmacological systems
• drug delivery
• multiscale modeling
• complex systems
• release kinetics
• degradation processes