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Pharmaceutics
Special Issues
Cutting-Edge Approaches to Smart Pharmaceutics and Vaccine Development
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Cutting-Edge Approaches to Smart Pharmaceutics and Vaccine Development

A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Physical Pharmacy and Formulation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2027 | Viewed by 2387

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Andreea-Teodora Iacob

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmaceutical and Therapeutic Chemistry, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, 16 University Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania
Interests: nanotechnology; antioxidant potential; nanofibers; niosomes; hydrogels; sponges; chitosan and hyaluronic wound dressings
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The development of smart pharmaceutics and next-generation vaccines is reshaping the future of modern medicine. This Special Issue, entitled “Cutting-Edge Approaches to Smart Pharmaceutics and Vaccine Development”, seeks to compile reviews and original research articles that explore the formulation together with the pharmaceutical application of advanced therapeutics, including immunization platforms. Emphasis will be placed on biomimetic approaches, smart delivery systems, and nanotechnology-driven innovations that improve immunogenicity and pharmacokinetic parameters and reduce the adverse effects associated with conventional pharmacotherapy, thus increasing compliance, adherence, and response to treatment. Furthermore, we encourage contributions that discuss the translational potential of mRNA and DNA vaccines and AI-assisted therapeutic/pharmaceutical discoveries. By providing a comprehensive overview of current progress that spans from fundamental science to clinical applications, this Special Issue aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and identify future directions in the vast domains of pharmacy and vaccinology/immunology.

Dr. Andreea-Teodora Iacob
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Pharmaceutics 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

  • nanotechnology-driven innovations
  • modern vaccines
  • smart pharmaceutics
  • AI-assisted pharmaceuticals

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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29 pages, 3654 KB  
Article
Direct Cytoplasmic Transcription and Trimeric RBD Design Synergize to Enhance DNA Vaccine Potency Against SARS-CoV-2
by Yunju Nam, Sang Chul Shin, Sang Won Cho and Hyung Jun Ahn
Pharmaceutics 2026, 18(2), 164; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18020164 - 26 Jan 2026
Viewed by 934
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The emergence of immune-evasive SARS-CoV-2 variants highlights the need for adaptable vaccine strategies. Trimeric receptor-binding domain (tRBD) antigens offer structural and immunological advantages over monomeric RBDs, but DNA vaccine efficacy has been limited by inefficient antigen expression, particularly in non-dividing antigen-presenting cells. [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The emergence of immune-evasive SARS-CoV-2 variants highlights the need for adaptable vaccine strategies. Trimeric receptor-binding domain (tRBD) antigens offer structural and immunological advantages over monomeric RBDs, but DNA vaccine efficacy has been limited by inefficient antigen expression, particularly in non-dividing antigen-presenting cells. Although cytoplasmic transcription–based DNA platforms have been developed to overcome nuclear entry barriers, their utility for antigen structure–function optimization remains underexplored. This study evaluated whether integrating a rationally designed trimeric RBD with a T7-driven cytoplasmic transcription system could enhance immunogenic performance. Methods: A DNA vaccine encoding a tandem trimeric SARS-CoV-2 RBD was delivered using a T7 RNA polymerase-driven cytoplasmic transcription system. In vitro antigen expression was assessed following Lipofectamine 3000-mediated transfection. In vivo, mice were immunized with the SM-102-based Rpol/tRBD/LNP formulation, and immunogenicity was assessed by antigen-specific antibody titers, serum neutralizing activity, and T-cell response profiling, together with basic safety/tolerability evaluations. Results: The T7-driven cytoplasmic transcription system markedly increased antigen mRNA and protein expression compared with conventional plasmid delivery. Rpol/tRBD vaccination induced higher anti-RBD IgG titers, enhanced neutralizing antibody activity, and robust CD8⁺ T cell responses relative to monomeric RBD and plasmid-based trimeric RBD vaccines. Immune responses were Th1-skewed and accompanied by germinal center activation without excessive inflammatory cytokine induction, body-weight loss, or hepatic and renal toxicity. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that integrating rational trimeric antigen engineering with direct cytoplasmic transcription enables balanced and well-tolerated immune activation in a DNA vaccine context. The T7 autogene-based platform provides a flexible framework for antigen structure–function optimization and supports the development of next-generation DNA vaccines targeting rapidly evolving viral pathogens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cutting-Edge Approaches to Smart Pharmaceutics and Vaccine Development)
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Review

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45 pages, 2482 KB  
Review
Achievements and Challenges in Therapy and Vaccines Development of Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers: An Up-to-Date Review
by Dan Lupascu, Andreea-Teodora Iacob, Maria Apotrosoaei, Ioana-Mirela Vasincu, Florentina-Geanina Lupascu, Oana-Maria Chirliu, Bianca-Stefania Profire, Roxana-Georgiana Tauser and Lenuta Profire
Pharmaceutics 2026, 18(4), 426; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18040426 - 30 Mar 2026
Viewed by 529
Abstract
Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) comprise a heterogeneous group of severe infectious diseases that continue to represent a major global health concern. Although many VHFs remain endemic to regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas, their wide geographic distribution, together with increasing international travel [...] Read more.
Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) comprise a heterogeneous group of severe infectious diseases that continue to represent a major global health concern. Although many VHFs remain endemic to regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas, their wide geographic distribution, together with increasing international travel and global trade, facilitates the importation of cases into non-endemic areas and raises the risk of secondary transmission under favorable ecological and epidemiological conditions. These infections are frequently associated with high case-fatality rates and impose a substantial social and economic burden, including pressure on healthcare systems, disruption of essential services, and long-term physical and psychological sequelae among survivors. Despite notable advances in recent years, therapeutic options for VHFs remain limited. Supportive care continues to represent the cornerstone of clinical management for most infections, while pathogen-targeted therapies are available only for a restricted number of diseases. Monoclonal antibody-based therapies have achieved the most significant regulatory success to date, particularly for Ebola virus disease. In parallel, several small-molecule antivirals have been investigated in preclinical and clinical settings, including during outbreak responses, although inconsistent efficacy and safety concerns have limited widespread approval. Vaccine development has progressed further, with licensed vaccines available for selected VHFs, including Ebola, yellow fever, and dengue, and multiple candidates based on diverse technological platforms advancing through clinical evaluation. In addition to summarizing current therapeutic and vaccine strategies, this review highlights pharmaceutical development considerations relevant to biologic therapeutics and selected vaccine platforms, including formulation stability, pharmacokinetic behavior, delivery routes, storage requirements, and logistical constraints affecting deployment during outbreak responses. Using a comparative cross-pathogen framework, the review synthesizes recent literature to identify translational gaps, regulatory challenges, and future priorities for the development of safer and more effective medical countermeasures against VHFs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cutting-Edge Approaches to Smart Pharmaceutics and Vaccine Development)
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38 pages, 3992 KB  
Review
Advancing Small-Molecule Immunotherapy Through Polymeric Micelle Delivery
by Kiran Suwal, Hyunji Lee, Saroj Bashyal, Donghyun Kim, Hyuk Jun Cho and Duhyeong Hwang
Pharmaceutics 2026, 18(4), 418; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18040418 - 29 Mar 2026
Viewed by 548
Abstract
Small-molecule immunomodulators have become important components of modern immunotherapy by targeting immune checkpoints, cytokine signaling pathways, metabolic enzymes, and intracellular kinases. Despite pharmacological rationale, many of these agents underperform clinically due to unfavorable physicochemical properties, rapid systemic clearance, limited target accumulation, and dose-limiting [...] Read more.
Small-molecule immunomodulators have become important components of modern immunotherapy by targeting immune checkpoints, cytokine signaling pathways, metabolic enzymes, and intracellular kinases. Despite pharmacological rationale, many of these agents underperform clinically due to unfavorable physicochemical properties, rapid systemic clearance, limited target accumulation, and dose-limiting toxicities, reflecting inadequate exposure control rather than a lack of target validity. Polymeric micelles, formed through the self-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers, offer a versatile delivery platform to address these challenges by enhancing solubility, modulating pharmacokinetics, enabling stimuli-responsive release, and facilitating targeted or synchronized co-delivery. In this review, we classify representative small-molecule immunomodulators according to their immunological targets and examine the delivery constraints that shape their therapeutic performance. We then discuss design principles of polymeric micelle systems, including solubilization-driven formulations, microenvironment-responsive architectures, spatial targeting strategies, and co-delivery approaches that align cytotoxic and immunomodulatory mechanisms. Attention is given to the distinction between direct immunomodulators and cytotoxic agents that induce immunogenic cell death, highlighting how micelle-based delivery can enhance efficacy through improved exposure control. By integrating immunopharmacology with formulation science, this review outlines how polymeric micelles may advance the efficacy and safety of small-molecule immunomodulators and identifies key considerations for future translational development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cutting-Edge Approaches to Smart Pharmaceutics and Vaccine Development)
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