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Lipid Membranes as Multifunctional Platforms for Bioactive Delivery

A Special Issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067) belonging to the section "Macromolecules".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 October 2026 | Viewed by 1683

Editor


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Guest Editor
Zona Industriale di Porto Salvo SNC, Linfa Scarl, 89900 Vibo Valentia, Italy
Interests: lipid membranes; biomimetic systems; polymers; controlled release; advanced delivery platforms; natural extracts
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Lipid membranes are versatile, biomimetic structures that have attracted significant attention as delivery platforms for a wide range of bioactive compounds. Their unique ability to encapsulate, protect and release molecules with controlled kinetics makes them ideal for applications where stability, biocompatibility and targeted performance are crucial. Recent advances in lipid-based systems, including liposomes, micelles, and nanostructured lipid carriers, are opening up new opportunities to enhance the delivery and efficacy of bioactive substances in various sectors, such as healthcare, nutrition and cosmetics. The aim of this Special Issue is to highlight the latest progress in the design, characterisation and application of lipid membranes as smart carriers. We welcome contributions addressing fundamental aspects of membrane structure and dynamics, novel strategies to improve stability and bioavailability, computational and in silico studies, and innovative methods to tailor release profiles. Emphasis will be placed on contributions that connect basic insights with applied research using either experimental or computational approaches to improve the stabilisation, delivery and efficacy of bioactive compounds in health, nutrition and dermal care. By bringing together original research articles and reviews, this Special Issue will encourage discussion between scientists and innovators working on lipid-based systems, thereby advancing knowledge and stimulating future breakthroughs in the field.

Dr. Ylenia Miele
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • lipid-based carriers
  • drug delivery
  • bioactive compounds
  • in silico, in vitro and in vivo models

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

16 pages, 1054 KB  
Review
Decoding Membrane Lipids: Analytical Barriers and Technological Advances in Modern Lipidomics
by Kyung-Hee Kim and Byong Chul Yoo
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(3), 1472; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27031472 - 2 Feb 2026
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1280
Abstract
Biological membranes are dynamic, information-rich platforms whose structural and functional properties are dictated by lipid composition rather than acting as passive barriers. Recent advances in lipidomics have revealed that variations in lipid headgroups, acyl-chain length and saturation, sn-positional architecture, and oxidative modifications profoundly [...] Read more.
Biological membranes are dynamic, information-rich platforms whose structural and functional properties are dictated by lipid composition rather than acting as passive barriers. Recent advances in lipidomics have revealed that variations in lipid headgroups, acyl-chain length and saturation, sn-positional architecture, and oxidative modifications profoundly influence membrane mechanics, lateral organization, and protein–lipid interactions. These features collectively regulate fundamental cellular processes, including signaling, trafficking, curvature generation, and transbilayer asymmetry. In parallel, a wide range of pathological conditions—including cancer, metabolic disorders, neurodegeneration, and inflammatory diseases—are increasingly associated with coordinated lipid remodeling that reshapes membrane material properties and electrostatic landscapes. In this review, we integrate biophysical principles with lipidomics-based evidence to elucidate how lipid chemical diversity translates into membrane-level behavior. We discuss the roles of major membrane lipid classes, the functional consequences of acyl-chain and sn-positional remodeling, and the biological significance of lipid asymmetry and lateral heterogeneity. Particular attention is given to disease-associated lipid reprogramming and extracellular vesicle lipidomes as functional extensions of cellular membranes. Finally, we examine key analytical barriers in modern lipidomics and outline strategies required to connect lipid structural information with biological function. Together, this framework highlights membrane lipid architecture as a central determinant of cellular physiology and a promising axis for mechanistic insight and translational biomarker discovery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lipid Membranes as Multifunctional Platforms for Bioactive Delivery)
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