Progress in Pharmaceutical Applications of Lipid-Based Nanoparticles

Dear Colleagues,

Lipid-based nanomaterials and nanoparticles are gaining increasing interest in targeted drug delivery, diagnostic imaging, and nanomedicine. They offer possibilities for encapsulation of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic bioactive guest molecules in nanoscale reservoirs for controlled multidrug release. Moreover, they represent safe systems for nanoformulation of protein and peptide drugs and nonviral delivery of gene-editing complexes. Considerable progress has been achieved with lipid membrane mimetic cubosome and spongosome nanoparticles for anticancer and transcutaneous applications, regeneration after spinal cord injury, and modulation of neural stem cells in brain repair. Recent strategies also include the embedding of drug-loaded lipid nanoparticles in hydrogel matrices and the fabrication of biocompatible scaffolds for neural tissue engineering and neuronal regeneration.

This Special Issue of Nanomaterials will focus on recent advances and ongoing cutting-edge research in liquid crystalline nanocarriers (cubosomes, spongosomes, hexosomes, and liposomes), nanostructured lipid carriers, solid lipid nanoparticles, and lipid–drug conjugates. The uses of lipid-based nanomaterials as multidrug sustained delivery systems and their potential therapeutic value in regenerative nanomedicine, treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, neuro- and cardioprotection, growth factor delivery strategies, reduction of neuroinflammation, topical delivery of antimicrobial peptides, and anticancer agents will be highlighted. The preclinical and clinical status and the future prospects for lipid nanoparticle uses in brain targeting, parenteral, topical, and oral delivery as well as in diagnostic and imaging applications will be considered. Remarkable attention will be given to the role of nanoparticle architectures and surface modifications in their cellular uptake mechanism.

Dr. Angelina Angelova
Guest Editor

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