Prodrug Strategies for Enhancing Drug Stability and Pharmacokinetics
A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Drug Targeting and Design".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 January 2026 | Viewed by 1960
Special Issue Editors
Interests: prodrugs; biocatalysis, prodrug synthesis; by-products valorization
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Prodrugs, defined as pharmacologically inactive compounds that undergo bioactivation in vivo, offer solutions to poor solubility, low bioavailability, rapid metabolism, and targeted delivery challenges. The development of prodrugs is a pivotal strategy in modern medicinal chemistry, aimed at overcoming intrinsic limitations related to drug formulation, delivery, pharmacokinetics, and bioavailability. The prodrug approach may save time, protect resources, and facilitate the overall drug development process. This Special Issue, "Prodrug Strategies for Enhancing Drug Stability and Pharmacokinetics", seeks to present cutting-edge research and reviews on innovative approaches to prodrug design, whether through traditional chemical synthesis or biocatalytic and green approaches. Emphasis will be placed on strategies that enhance drug solubility, stability, and pharmacokinetics, including advancements in bioavailability optimization, duration of action prolongation, and reduction of adverse effects. This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements in prodrug technologies, highlighting prodrugs as better pharmaceutically active agents with improved safety profiles. We invite researchers to submit original research articles and reviews that explore these multifaceted aspects of prodrug development, aiming to highlight successful strategies and novel insights into this ever-evolving field.
Dr. Federico Zappaterra
Dr. Pier Paolo Giovannini
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- prodrug development
- drug solubility enhancement
- pharmacokinetic optimization
- bioavailability improvement
- innovative drug design
- green biocatalytic approaches
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