Polymers for Drug Delivery and Drug Release Systems

A special issue of Journal of Functional Biomaterials (ISSN 2079-4983). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomaterials for Drug Delivery".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2027 | Viewed by 344

Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA
Interests: drug delivery; polymeric micelles; polycaprolactones; nanoparticles; anticancer drug; doxorubicin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA
Interests: polymers; drug delivery; polymeric micelles; semiconducting materials; polycaprolactones; polythiophenes; catalysis
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue "Polymers for Drug Delivery and Drug Release Systems" focuses on the pivotal role of polymeric materials in advancing modern therapeutics. It highlights the transition from conventional drug administration to sophisticated, controlled-release systems designed to improve drug efficacy, safety, and patient compliance. The issue covers a broad spectrum of research, from fundamental polymer synthesis and characterization to the application of these materials in cutting-edge nanomedicine and regenerative medicine.

Key themes include the design and engineering of smart polymers that respond to specific physiological stimuli (such as pH, temperature, or enzymes) to release drugs at the target site. A significant emphasis is placed on nanocarriers, including polymeric nanoparticles, micelles, and dendrimers, for targeted cancer therapy, gene delivery, and the treatment of infectious diseases. The issue also explores the use of biodegradable and biocompatible polymers (e.g., PLGA, chitosan, or PEG) in creating long-acting implants, injectable depots, and 3D scaffolds for tissue engineering. Furthermore, it addresses contemporary challenges such as overcoming biological barriers, enhancing drug stability, and scaling up manufacturing processes. Overall, the Special Issue provides a comprehensive overview of how polymer science is driving innovation to create the next generation of intelligent and personalized drug delivery systems.

Dr. Abhi Bhadran
Prof. Dr. Mihaela C. Stefan
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • controlled drug release
  • polymeric nanoparticles
  • stimuli-responsive polymers
  • biocompatibility
  • targeted drug delivery
  • biodegradable polymer

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

26 pages, 2002 KB  
Review
Polymer Microneedles for Localized Drug Delivery in Musculoskeletal Tissue Regeneration
by Seihyun Park, Dohee Kim, Hongyoon Kim, Inseon Kim and Seunghun S. Lee
J. Funct. Biomater. 2026, 17(7), 325; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb17070325 (registering DOI) - 6 Jul 2026
Abstract
Musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders—osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, intervertebral disc degeneration, tendinopathy, and skeletal muscle injury—contribute the largest share of years lived with disability worldwide. Conventional therapy relies on systemic dosing or repeated intra-articular and peri-tissue injections, which suffer from off-target toxicity, poor lesional bioavailability, [...] Read more.
Musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders—osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, intervertebral disc degeneration, tendinopathy, and skeletal muscle injury—contribute the largest share of years lived with disability worldwide. Conventional therapy relies on systemic dosing or repeated intra-articular and peri-tissue injections, which suffer from off-target toxicity, poor lesional bioavailability, and low adherence. Polymer microneedles (MNs)—micron-scale projections of biodegradable, dissolving, hydrogel-forming, or composite polymers—have rapidly matured into a versatile platform for minimally invasive, spatially localized, and temporally programmable delivery of small molecules, biologics, nucleic acids, extracellular vesicles, and cells to MSK tissues. This review synthesizes 2018–2026 advances in polymer MN systems engineered specifically for MSK regeneration. We classify dominant polymer chemistries and MN architectures; map fit-for-purpose across bone, cartilage, joint, intervertebral disc, tendon, and skeletal muscle; and survey “smart” MN designs that exploit reactive oxygen species, pH, mechanical, triboelectric, optogenetic, and ultrasonic triggers. We close with a concise conclusion and forward perspective that identifies the key design levers—hybrid MN–scaffold combination products, stimuli-responsive platforms tuned to the MSK micro-environment, and cell- and EV-loaded formats—most likely to have clinical impact. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymers for Drug Delivery and Drug Release Systems)
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