Pharmaceuticals

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

New Advances in Polymeric Micelles for Drug Delivery

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Many of the challenges concerning pharmaceutical compounds involve the tuning of their physical properties and controlled and targeted drug delivery, in order to acquire the optimum therapeutic effect. Keeping these challenges and the recent emergence of advanced materials in mind, polymeric micelles have been applied due to their enhanced drug encapsulation capacity and their ability to improve the pharmacokinetics of the loaded drug.

Polymeric micelles are formed by amphiphilic block copolymers that spontaneously self-assemble into nanosized aggregates. In order to achieve maximum therapeutic effect, physical characteristics such as the size, composition, surface charge, surface chemistry and responsiveness of the micelles in internal or external stimuli must be engineered.

To address these issues, authors are invited to contribute original or review articles to this Special Issue highlighting recent developments related to polymeric micelles used for drug delivery.

Dr. Maria D. Rikkou-Kalourkoti
Guest Editor

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.

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.

Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.

Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.

External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.

Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

15 pages, 2247 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Thermodynamic Insights of the Molecular Interactions of Dopamine (Neurotransmitter) with Anionic Surfactant in Non-Aqueous Media

by Arshid Nabi, Christopher G. Jesudason, Jamal S. M. Sabir and Majid Rasool Kamli

Pharmaceuticals 2023, 16(9), 1187; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph16091187 - 22 Aug 2023

Viewed by 1351

Abstract

This study was aimed at establishing the interactions prevailing in an anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate, and dopamine hydrochloride in an alcoholic (ethanol) media by using volumetric, conductometric, and tensiometric techniques. Various methods were utilized to estimate the critical micelle concentration (cmc) values at different temperatures. The entire methods yielded the same cmc values. The corresponding thermodynamic parameters viz. the standard free energy of micellization (

G_{m i c}^{o}

), enthalpy of micellization (

H_{m i c}^{o}

), and entropy of micellization (

S_{m i c}^{o}

) were predicted by applying the pseudo-phase separation model. The experimental density data at different temperatures (298.15 K, 303.15 K, 308.15 K, and 313.15 K) were utilized to estimate the apparent molar volumes (

V_{ϕ}^{o}

) at an infinite dilution, apparent molar volumes (

V_{φ}^{c m c}

) at the critical micelle concentration, and apparent molar volumes (

Δ V_{φ}^{m}

) upon micellization. Various micellar and interfacial parameters, for example, the surface excess concentration (

Γ_{\max}

), standard Gibbs free energy of adsorption at the interface (

Δ G^{o}_{a d}

), and the minimum surface area per molecule (

A_{\min}

), were appraised using the surface tension data. The results were used to interpret the intermolecular interactions prevailing in the mixed systems under the specified experimental conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Polymeric Micelles for Drug Delivery)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 5094 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cutaneous Polymeric-Micelles-Based Hydrogel Containing Origanum vulgare L. Essential Oil: In Vitro Release and Permeation, Angiogenesis, and Safety Profile In Ovo

by Ștefana Avram, Larisa Bora, Lavinia Lia Vlaia, Ana Maria Muț, Gheorghe-Emilian Olteanu, Ioana Olariu, Ioana Zinuca Magyari-Pavel, Daliana Minda, Zorița Diaconeasa, Paula Sfirloaga, Mohd Adnan, Cristina Adriana Dehelean and Corina Danciu

Pharmaceuticals 2023, 16(7), 940; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph16070940 - 29 Jun 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3005

Abstract

Origanum vulgare var. vulgare essential oil (OEO) is known as a natural product with multiple beneficial effects with application in dermatology. Oregano essential oil represents a potential natural therapeutic alternative for fibroepithelial polyps (FPs), commonly known as skin tags. Innovative formulations have been developed to improve the bioavailability and stability of essential oils. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the morphology of a polymeric-micelles-based hydrogel (OEO-PbH), the release and permeation profile of oregano essential oil, as well as to assess in vivo the potential effects on the degree of biocompatibility and the impact on angiogenesis in ovo, using a chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis indicated a regular aspect after the encapsulation process, while in vitro release studies showed a sustained release of the essential oil. None of the tested samples induced any irritation on the CAM and the limitation of the angiogenic process was noted. OEO-PbH, with a sustained release of OEO, potentially enhances the anti-angiogenic effect while being well tolerated and non-irritative by the vascularized CAM, especially on the blood vessels (BVs) in the presence of leptin treatment. This is the first evidence of in vivo antiangiogenic effects of a polymeric-micelle-loaded oregano essential oil, with further mechanistic insights for OEO-PbH formulation, involving leptin as a possible target. The findings suggest that the OEO-containing polymeric micelle hydrogel represents a potential future approach in the pathology of cutaneous FP and other angiogenesis-related conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Polymeric Micelles for Drug Delivery)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

New Advances in Polymeric Micelles for Drug Delivery

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (2 papers)

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI