Curcumin: Current Status and Future Challenges in Drug Delivery and Advanced Formulations
A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Pharmacology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 28
Special Issue Editors
Interests: drug delivery; formulation; skin; eye; polymeric materials
Interests: drug delivery; formulation; skin; eye; nail
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Curcumin, the principal bioactive compound of Curcuma longa, has been used for centuries in traditional Asian medicine and continues to attract considerable scientific interest for its wide range of pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, and antimicrobial effects. Despite its promising therapeutic potential, curcumin’s clinical translation remains limited due to its poor water solubility, low systemic bioavailability, instability under physiological conditions, and rapid metabolic elimination.
This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the use of curcumin as a natural active compound, focusing on both its therapeutic potential and the limitations that still hinder its full exploitation. Particular attention will be given to innovative formulation strategies designed to overcome these challenges. These include advanced nanoformulations (e.g., liposomes, micelles, and solid lipid nanoparticles), polymer-based systems, the use of bioenhancers, and synergistic combinations with other bioactives. Additionally, we welcome studies addressing the molecular mechanisms of curcumin's action and its efficacy in preclinical and clinical models.
By consolidating state-of-the-art research, this Special Issue seeks to highlight the current status of curcumin-based therapies and identify the most effective strategies for exploiting the potential of this natural compound. Researchers from pharmacology, pharmaceutical sciences, medicinal chemistry, and related fields are invited to contribute.
Dr. Valentina Paganini
Dr. Silvia Tampucci
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pharmaceuticals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
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curcumin
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curcumin delivery
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curcumin formulations
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therapeutic potential
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natural polyphenols
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phytochemicals
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nanotechnology
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pharmacological properties
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