Macromolecules and Hydrogel Formulations: Synthesis, Characterization, Pharmacological Effects and Possible Environmental Applications 2.0

Dear Colleagues,

In the last few years, antibiotic resistance and, analogously, anticancer drug resistance have increased considerably, becoming one of the main public health problems needing solutions, which can be obtained by finding new therapeutic strategies that are able to counteract the onset of multi-drug resistance (MDR). Due to several surface similarities between bacteria and cancer cells rather than human normal cells, cationic nanosized macromolecules (NPs) mimicking natural antimicrobial peptides (NAMPs) and acting as membrane disruptors have shown potent and selective microbiocidal and anticancer effects and a low tendency to develop resistance. Furthermore, water-soluble cationic NPs have proven to be particularly efficient in solubilizing insoluble bioactive small molecules, thus enhancing their bioavailability and activities and promoting their further development as new therapeutic agents. In this context, topical administration and drug delivery via the skin is a convenient and novel approach that allows the avoidance of first-pass metabolism, thus increasing drug bioavailability. It allows the application of drugs to a large area, avoiding gastro-intestinal irritation caused by the medication and improving patient compliance. In this regard, since only small particles can pass through the skin, NPs are particularly suitable to provide topical formulations. Additionally, cross-linked macromolecules capable of providing gels with intrinsic pharmacological effects or enriched with bioactive molecules by their dispersion in water (hydrogels) have been suggested to overcome the problems associated with conventional topical delivery devices. Hydrogels have gained attention owing to their peculiar characteristics, such as swelling in aqueous media, pH and temperature sensitivity, or sensitivity to other stimuli, biocompatibility, and environmental applicability.

This Special Issue aims to provide a platform for research on the development of new antimicrobial and/or anticancer water-soluble NPs or crosslinked macromolecules, starting from their synthesis to their biological evaluation and/or environmental application, and ending with their characterization. The simultaneous presence of all of these aspects in the same study is not mandatory. We welcome papers with a special focus on the formulation of the bioactive macromolecules as hydrogels for cutaneous uses with low cytotoxicity toward mammalian cells.

Prof. Dr. Silvana Alfei
Guest Editor

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