Biomedical Applications of Nanocarriers in Targeted Delivery of Bioactive Compounds

A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Drug Delivery and Controlled Release".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 215

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Food Science and Experimental Nutrition, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508000, Brazil
Interests: anticancer; colon cancer; bioactive compounds; nanoparticles; nanotechnology; pectin; bioactive polysaccharides.
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Food Science and Experimental Nutrition, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508000, Brazil
Interests: colon cancer; bioavaivalability; bioactive compounds; nanotechnology; polyphenolic compounds; polysaccharides; targeted delivery

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to explore the innovative use of nanocarriers in drug delivery systems, emphasizing their potential to improve the bioavailability, stability, and controlled release of bioactive compounds. Nanocarriers, such as liposomes, nanoparticles, dendrimers, and micelles, are engineered to encapsulate therapeutic agents and deliver them specifically to targeted sites, minimizing off-target effects and enhancing therapeutic efficacy. This Special Issue focuses on designing, characterizing, and functionalizing nanocarriers to deliver various bioactive compounds, including natural compounds, such as carotenoids, polyphenolic compounds, terpenes, peptides, and proteins. The research included in this Special Issue should also investigate advances in targeting strategies, such as ligand–receptor interactions, surface modifications, stimuli-responsive delivery systems, biomaterials, and methodologies. Emphasis is placed on overcoming challenges related to oral administration, absorption, biodistribution, toxicity, and immune responses. The goal is to provide a comprehensive understanding of how nanocarriers can revolutionize treatment regimens in diseases like cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders, and infections, thus advancing pharmaceutical sciences and precision medicine.

Prof. Dr. João Paulo Fabi
Dr. Thiécla Katiane Osvaldt Rosales
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • absorption
  • bioavailability
  • bioactive compounds
  • drug delivery systems
  • nanoencapsulation
  • nanomaterials
  • nanocarrier systems
  • natural compounds
  • oral administration
  • precision therapy
  • targeted delivery

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

15 pages, 1521 KiB  
Article
Surface Functionalized Polyhydroxyalkanoate Nanoparticles via SpyTag–SpyCatcher System for Targeted Breast Cancer Treatment
by Jin Young Heo, Min Kyung Sung, Seonhye Jang, Hansol Kim, Youngdo Jeong, Dong-Jin Jang, Sang-Jae Lee, Seong-Bo Kim and Sung Tae Kim
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(6), 721; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17060721 (registering DOI) - 29 May 2025
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Biodegradable polymers have emerged as promising platforms for drug delivery. Produced by microbiomes, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) offer excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and environmental sustainability. In this study, we report the surface functionalization of PHA-based nanoparticles (NPs) using the SpyTag–SpyCatcher system to enhance cellular uptake. [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Biodegradable polymers have emerged as promising platforms for drug delivery. Produced by microbiomes, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) offer excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and environmental sustainability. In this study, we report the surface functionalization of PHA-based nanoparticles (NPs) using the SpyTag–SpyCatcher system to enhance cellular uptake. Methods: Initial conjugation with mEGFP-SpyTag enabled visualization, followed by decoration with HER2-specific Affibody-SpyCatcher and/or TAT-SpyCatcher peptides. The prepared NPs retained a diameter of <200 nm and a negatively charged surface. Results: Affibody-functionalized NPs significantly enhanced internalization and cytotoxicity in HER2-overexpressing SK-BR-3 cells, whereas TAT-functionalized NPs promoted uptake across various cell types, independently of HER2 expression. Dual-functionalized NPs exhibited synergistic or attenuated effects based on the HER2 expression levels, highlighting the critical role of ligand composition in targeted delivery. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate that the SpyTag–SpyCatcher-mediated surface engineering of PHA NPs offers a modular and robust strategy for active targeting in nanomedicine. Full article
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