Pharmaceutical Applications of Therapeutic Deep Eutectic Systems (THEDES)

A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Pharmaceutical Technology, Manufacturing and Devices".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 1585

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Chemistry Department, NOVA School of Science and Technology, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
Interests: biomedical research; cancer therapeutics; colorectal cancer; drug delivery systems; nanoparticles; cryopreservation; 2D and 3D cell models; sustainbale chemistry; therapeutic deep eutectic systems; natural deep eutectic systems; antimicrobial

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Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacy, Universidad San Jorge, Zaragoza, Spain
Interests: toxicology; drug formulation; therapeutic deep eutectic systems; pharmaceutical applications
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Guest Editor
UTCB Lab, Health Faculty, School of Pharmacy, Université Paris Cité, 75006 Paris, France
Interests: therapeutic deep eutectic solvents; therapeutic nanocrystals; nanomedicines; drug physico-chemical characterization; drug stability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Therapeutic deep eutectic systems (THEDESs) have emerged as a promising class of systems and matrices within the pharmaceutical field, offering remarkable advantages such as improved drug bioavailability (including solubility and permeability), stability, biocompatibility, and selectivity towards the therapeutic target.

These eutectics can be tailored for diverse pharmaceutical applications, ranging from transdermal to oral drug delivery, and encompass a myriad of applications, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, wound-healing enhancers, and anti-inflammatory agents, among others. Their compatibility with both synthetic and natural active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) further expands their scope, making them highly attractive for innovation in formulation science.

This Special Issue aims to showcase the latest advances in the design, characterization, and pharmaceutical application of THEDES. We welcome original research articles and comprehensive reviews that contribute to understanding the potential and challenges of THEDES in pharmaceutical sciences.

We invite researchers working across biomedicine, formulation science, drug delivery, green chemistry, and related disciplines to contribute their findings and perspectives.

We look forward to your valuable contributions.

Dr. Filipe Oliveira
Dr. Laura Lomba Eraso
Prof. Dr. Yohann Corvis
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • eutectic systems
  • therapeutic deep eutectic systems
  • natural deep eutectic systems
  • biomedicine
  • drug delivery systems
  • bioavailability
  • antimicrobial
  • cancer
  • anti-inflammatory
  • antioxidant

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

32 pages, 2115 KB  
Review
Advancements in Therapeutic Deep Eutectic Solvents as Multifunctional Transdermal Delivery Systems
by Ke Li, Bo Yan, Zhibo Cao, Rongrong Lu, Guotai Wu and Yang Hai
Pharmaceutics 2026, 18(3), 360; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18030360 - 13 Mar 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1065
Abstract
The human skin, specifically the stratum corneum (SC), remains a formidable barrier to the delivery of therapeutic agents. Nearly 80% of new drug candidates exhibit poor solubility or low permeability, necessitating the development of novel delivery vehicles. Therapeutic deep eutectic solvents (TheDES) have [...] Read more.
The human skin, specifically the stratum corneum (SC), remains a formidable barrier to the delivery of therapeutic agents. Nearly 80% of new drug candidates exhibit poor solubility or low permeability, necessitating the development of novel delivery vehicles. Therapeutic deep eutectic solvents (TheDES) have emerged as a “green,” multifunctional solution capable of significantly enhancing the solubility and transdermal flux of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). This review discusses the physicochemical fundamentals of TheDES, mechanisms of permeation enhancement—including the newly identified “lipid exchange” effect—and the transition from liquid solvents to advanced dosage forms such as eutectogels and nanoemulsions. Current therapeutic applications in pain management, infectious diseases, and chronic conditions are highlighted, alongside critical assessments of dermatological safety and future directions in computational modeling. Full article
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