Advanced Materials Science and Technology in Drug Delivery, 2nd Edition

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 2026 | Viewed by 101

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Guest Editor
Department of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: nanomaterials; biomaterials for tissue regeneration; wound dressings; antimicrobial activity; biomimetic materials; biogenic calcium sources; composite scaffolds
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This second edition of the Special Issue “Advanced Materials Science and Technology in Drug Delivery” aims to showcase the most recent developments in material-driven breakthroughs that shape the future of drug delivery systems. This edition invites pioneering research and comprehensive reviews covering the discovery, engineering, and application of innovative materials to improve therapeutic efficacy, control release profiles, enhance targeting precision, and address ongoing clinical and industrial challenges.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Nanomaterials (e.g., nanoparticles, quantum dots, liposomes, dendrimers, carbon nanotubes, graphene, fullerenes, and mesoporous silica nanoparticles) for targeted and controlled drug delivery.
  • Responsive and smart materials capable of stimuli-triggered release (e.g., pH, temperature, and enzymatic activity).
  • Polymers and hydrogels as advanced carriers for small molecules, peptides, proteins, and nucleic acids.
  • Hybrid systems combining multiple material classes for synergy in delivery function and biocompatibility.
  • Surface engineering and functionalization for improved cellular uptake, stability, and prolonged circulation.
  • Translational and clinical aspects—from scalable manufacturing and regulatory perspectives to bench-to-bedside applications.
  • Multifunctional and personalized delivery platforms that tailor therapeutic strategies to individual patient needs.

Compared to the first edition, this Special Issue places a stronger emphasis on clinical impact and emerging technologies, such as bioinspired systems, organ-on-a-chip-integrated delivery platforms, and AI-assisted material design. While the first edition focused primarily on exploring innovative materials and their fundamental applications in drug delivery, this new edition expands the scope to encourage interdisciplinary insights that bridge material science, pharmaceutical technology, biology, and engineering, fostering interdisciplinary solutions to the ever-evolving landscape of drug delivery.

Dr. Ionela Andreea Neacsu
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • nanomaterials
  • metal–organic frameworks (MOFs)
  • hybrid and polymer-lipid nanoparticles
  • hydrogels (injectable, responsive)
  • polymers (natural: chitosan, hyaluronic acid, and dextrin synthetic: PEG, PCL, and PLA)
  • stimuli-responsive/bioresponsive drug delivery (pH, temperature, enzymatic, redox, magnetic, and light-triggered)
  • site-specific delivery (e.g., tumor, brain, oral, and mucosal)
  • imaging-guided or theranostic drug delivery
  • co-delivery systems (simultaneous delivery of multiple drugs or agents)
  • surface modification/functionalization of carriers
  • ligand/receptor targeting (e.g., folic acid, peptides, and antibodies)
  • encapsulation and loading efficiency
  • microfluidic-based formulation

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

44 pages, 1960 KB  
Review
Targeted Drug Delivery Strategies in Overcoming Antimicrobial Resistance: Advances and Future Directions
by Ohoud M. Alidriss, Hamood AlSudais, Ohoud S. Alhumaidan, Haifa D. Altwaijry, Afnan Bakhsh, Yasir Almuhanna, Zeina S. Alkudmani, Ibrahim A. Alqarni, Daheeya Alenazi, Alanoud T. Aljasham and Yahya F. Jamous
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(11), 1426; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17111426 - 4 Nov 2025
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a present, pressing global public health crisis associated with rising morbidity and mortality rates due to previously curable infectious disease. Targeted drug delivery is an important approach to address AMR due to its ability to improve the therapeutic performance [...] Read more.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a present, pressing global public health crisis associated with rising morbidity and mortality rates due to previously curable infectious disease. Targeted drug delivery is an important approach to address AMR due to its ability to improve the therapeutic performance of antibiotics without leading to any adverse effects or organ toxicities. In this review we explore molecular mechanisms of AMR and drawbacks of conventional antibiotic therapies and discuss unique drug delivery approaches to compensate these. Nanoparticulate carrier systems, stimuli-responsive systems, antibody–drug conjugates, and CRISPR-Cas systems are some of the carrier method designs that are promising for tackling hard to treat infections related to pathogenic strains and biofilms due to their features. Many of these are among the most significant advances in the field. However, there are many challenges to be overcome, with biological limitations, scaling and regulatory challenges, etc., before they can be employed in commercial applications. Materials are being developed, and an approach standardized and applicable to future work is in development to improve the efficiency of targeted delivery systems. Controlled drug delivery, which could be the answer to an increasing AMR problem, will not only help in alerting awareness among individuals but will also help in prolonging the activity of antibiotics by providing synergistic interdisciplinary solutions. This review emphasizes the complementary role of targeted drug delivery in transitioning from laboratory investigations to clinical therapy. It addresses underrepresented aspects, including new materials, scalability, regulatory considerations, and ethical implications, while offering a roadmap for translating innovations into next-generation antimicrobials. Full article
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