Recent Advances in Pharmaceutical Formulation

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 1947

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Drug Industry and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Grigore T. Popa”, University of Medicine and Pharmacy from Iași, 700115 Iasi, Romania
Interests: pharmaceutical formulation

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Pharmaceutical Technology and Cosmetology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania
Interests: hydrogels; oleogels; bigels; pharmaceutical formulation; orodispersible tablets
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Interests: pharmaceutical development; innovative dosage forms; 3D printing in pharmaceutics; quality by design (QbD); process analytical technology (PAT); multivariate data analysis (MVDA); pharmaceutical product/process optimization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Pharmaceutical formulation represents a vital and deeply influential stage in the development of any medicinal product. The precision, creativity, and scientific rigor applied at this point shape not only the success of subsequent research and clinical phases, but also the real-world impact felt by patients. As the need for truly personalized therapies continues to grow, the limitations of standardized industrial products become increasingly evident. Patients bring with them unique biological profiles- genetic test results, intolerances, variable responses to therapy, making individualized approaches not just desirable, but often essential. In this evolving landscape, magistral and compounded preparations are re-emerging as highly adaptable solutions capable of meeting needs that industrial manufacturing cannot. From capsules tailored to patients with specific intolerances, to dermatological formulations using transdermal bases, to ovules containing thermolabile compounds impossible to mass produce, these practices highlight the remarkable versatility and human-centered value of pharmaceutical compounding. They also cultivate a distinct professional space for pharmacists whose laboratory expertise bridges scientific precision with artisanal care.

In recent years, this field has expanded significantly, particularly within individualized therapies informed by genetic testing. Such advances allow for the fine-tuning of treatments in ways previously unattainable. Within this framework, magistral compounding has emerged as a powerful and responsive tool, enabling the exact balancing of a formulation according to the optimal efficacy profile of an active substance as determined through genetic analysis. Personalized therapies are increasingly recognized not only as a scientific advancement, but as a profound contributor to patient well-being and professional fulfilment, providing physicians, patients, and pharmacists alike with a sense of trust, collaboration, and shared success.

This Special Issue aims to bring together innovative research contributions and thoughtful critical reviews focused on the formulation of personalized and compounded preparations. Areas of interest include sustainable excipients, preformulated bases, advanced drug-delivery platforms, and strategies for effectively adapting formulations to individual therapeutic needs. By weaving together traditional pharmaceutical craftsmanship with modern technological progress, this volume aspires to advance the field of pharmaceutical formulation in both academic discourse and clinical practice, always with the ultimate goal of improving patient care.

Dr. Magdalena Bîrsan
Dr. Robert-Alexandru Vlad
Prof. Dr. Ioan Tomuta
Guest Editors

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

  • sustainable excipients
  • preformulated bases
  • drug delivery platforms
  • pharmaceutical formulation
  • personalized therapies

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

20 pages, 8184 KB  
Article
The Influence of the Drying Process on the Dissolution Time of Concentrated Chinese Medicine Pills: Roles of Textural Properties and Water Migration
by Xiaojun Wang, Qinmin Meng, Xiaojian Luo, Yao Zhang, Jing Yang, Xiaoyong Rao, Yingming Zhang, Haowei Lu, Yan He and Wei Liu
Pharmaceutics 2026, 18(5), 563; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18050563 - 30 Apr 2026
Abstract
Objectives: Concentrated pills, as a modernization and upgrade of traditional pills, have achieved significant advancements in dosage form. However, their extended disintegration and dispersion times have become a major limitation to their therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, an in-depth study and explanation of the [...] Read more.
Objectives: Concentrated pills, as a modernization and upgrade of traditional pills, have achieved significant advancements in dosage form. However, their extended disintegration and dispersion times have become a major limitation to their therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, an in-depth study and explanation of the dissolution mechanism of concentrated pills, along with the development of processing technology to control dissolution time, has emerged as a critical bottleneck in improving the quality of concentrated pills. Methods: In this study, the Liuwei Dihuang (LWDH) concentrated pill, derived from the classical Liuwei Dihuang pill, was selected as a representative model. Two drying methods—hot-air drying and hot air–microwave combined drying—were comparatively investigated to evaluate their effects on dissolution time. The dissolution behavior was elucidated by analyzing water migration during the dissolution process, as well as the textural properties and internal structural characteristics of the pills using Low-Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (LF-NMR), Micro-Computed Tomography (Micro-CT), texture analysis, and other modern techniques. Results: The results indicated that: (i) The rate of water absorption during the dissolution process of the LWDH pill was influenced by the number and size of the internal pores. (ii) Hot air–microwave combined drying results in more pores and faster dissolution. (iii) High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) fingerprints showed no significant differences in the active ingredients between the samples. Conclusions: The drying method significantly affected the internal structure of the pills, suggesting that controlling the drying process could address the prolonged dissolution time of concentrated pills. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Pharmaceutical Formulation)
23 pages, 1481 KB  
Article
Formulation and Analytical Evaluation of Liquid Cannabidiol Preparations: Comparative Study of Oil-Based Solutions and Emulsions
by Robert-Alexandru Vlad, Lénárd Farczádi, Denisa Paliștan, Cezara Pintea, Paula Antonoaea, Emöke-Margit Rédai, Andrada Pintea, Cornelia-Titiana Cotoi, Adriana Ciurba, Magdalena Bîrsan and Ruxandra-Emilia Ștefănescu
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(12), 1533; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17121533 - 28 Nov 2025
Viewed by 1356
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive compound found in the Cannabis sativa plant. Due to its broad therapeutic potential, CBD is often incorporated into various pharmaceutical formulations. This study aimed to evaluate homogenous (oil-based) and heterogeneous (emulsion-based) liquid preparations of CBD using [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive compound found in the Cannabis sativa plant. Due to its broad therapeutic potential, CBD is often incorporated into various pharmaceutical formulations. This study aimed to evaluate homogenous (oil-based) and heterogeneous (emulsion-based) liquid preparations of CBD using different fatty oils and provide a comprehensive comparative framework for the development of stable liquid dosage forms of cannabidiol (CBD), with direct applications in pharmaceutical formulations. Methods: The oils and emulsions were qualitatively analysed to assess their stability and suitability as CBD carriers. Ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometry and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) were employed for quantifying CBD in the formulations and also characterising them in terms of product quality. Results: The results indicated that sunflower oil is the most stable and analytically compatible matrix, with CBD recovery close to 100% and minimal degradation over time. Conversely, linseed and pumpkin seed oils exhibited significant analytical interference and oxidative instability. Oil-in-water emulsions prepared with a 4% Tween 80/Span 80 mixture demonstrated optimal physical stability and droplet size distribution. Conclusions: Overall, both formulations can be regarded as suitable pharmaceutical carriers for CBD delivery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Pharmaceutical Formulation)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Back to TopTop