Advanced Drug Delivery Systems: From Nanocarrier Design to Translation Application

Dear Colleagues,

Advanced drug delivery systems (ADDSs) aim to overcome the limitations of traditional drug delivery methods while improving the likelihood of successful translation from the laboratory to the clinic. Over the last decade, various platforms such as liposomes, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), polymer nanoparticles, and dendrimers have emerged as promising ADDSs. Since the FDA approved Doxil in 1995, several formulations have been developed and tested in clinical trials.

LNPs and liposomes have primarily been used as advanced platforms for mRNA vaccination and siRNA therapies, as well as for surface modifications that enable targeted delivery. Biodegradable polymeric drug carriers, like pegylated nanoparticles, have shown great effectiveness in delivering drug combinations.

Despite the significant progress made with nanocarriers, challenges remain in areas such as mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS) clearance, scalability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics—all of which must be addressed before clinical translation can occur. Additionally, immunogenicity and targetability are crucial factors to consider in the formulation of nanocarriers for efficient drug delivery and for ensuring successful clinical translation.

In this Special Issue, we aim to compile strategies and formulations considered for nanocarrier development that have improved prospects for clinical translation. We hope that this collection will bridge existing knowledge gaps and advance nanocarrier development, with the aim of facilitating the creation of effective nano delivery systems with enhanced outcomes.

Dr. Santu Sarkar
Guest Editor

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