Natural Bioactive Compounds in Micro- and Nanocarriers

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 October 2025 | Viewed by 978

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Development, Institute for Medicinal Plant Research "Dr. Josif Pancic", Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: phytopreparations; skin semi-solids; emulsions; nanoparticles; microparticles; biocompatible excipients; medicinal plants; phytochemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Development, Institute for Medicinal Plant Research "Dr. Josif Pancic", Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: natural compounds; pharmacognosy; biological activity of components originated from plants; standardization of phytopharmaceuticals; development of delivery systems for topical application
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Nis, Serbia
Interests: pharmaceutical development and herbal drug characterization; development of dermocosmetic products; microencapsulation; nanoencapsulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to submit your manuscript(s) to the journal Pharmaceutics for a Special Issue, entitled “Natural Bioactive Compounds in Micro- and Nanocarriers”, with open access.

The application of micro- and nanocarriers in the delivery of various active ingredients, such as drugs, cosmetic active ingredients, or the actives in dietary supplements is a relatively new and rapidly evolving field in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries. Increased scientific interest in micro- and nanocarriers is especially evident in the field of natural bioactive compounds (NBCs). This is due to the recent studies suggesting the several advantages of encapsulating NBCs into nano- and micro-sized carriers, such as the following: (1) stabilization of sensitive ingredients and extension of shelf life; (2) enhancement of solubility of poorly soluble active ingredients; (3) promotion of absorption/skin penetration thus enhancing bioavailability and consequently efficacy; (4) improved sensory properties, and (5) controllable release leading to prolonged duration and reduced toxicity.

Following this trend, we would like to provide the readers of this Special Issue with the latest trends in the development of micro- and nano-systems as carriers of NBCs, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, anthraquinones, terpenoids, polysaccharides, sterols, fatty acids, etc., either as isolated compounds or as the part of plant/fungi/algae extracts, exudates, and essential oils. Therefore, we are interested in articles dedicated to the evaluation of such systems in terms of chemical, physicochemical, and/or biopharmaceutical characterization, stability, efficacy, and safety assessments.

Dr. Ana Žugić
Dr. Vanja Tadić
Prof. Dr. Ivana Nešić
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • phytochemicals
  • natural compound
  • natural products
  • development of micro- and nano-sized delivery systems
  • formulation of products based on nano- and micro-systems
  • systems for targeted delivery

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

47 pages, 12171 KiB  
Article
Design and Evaluation of a Zingiber officinale–Kaolinite–Maltodextrin Delivery System: Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and Cytotoxic Activity Assessment
by Adina-Elena Segneanu, Ionela Amalia Bradu, Gabriela Vlase, Titus Vlase, Cornelia Bejenaru, Ludovic Everard Bejenaru, George Dan Mogoşanu, Maria Viorica Ciocîlteu, Dumitru-Daniel Herea and Eugen Radu Boia
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(6), 751; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17060751 - 6 Jun 2025
Viewed by 482
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Zingiberaceae) is widely recognized for its diverse biological activities; however, the stability and bioavailability of its bioactive compounds remain significant challenges. This study aimed to investigate an innovative approach to enhance the stability and efficacy of [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Zingiberaceae) is widely recognized for its diverse biological activities; however, the stability and bioavailability of its bioactive compounds remain significant challenges. This study aimed to investigate an innovative approach to enhance the stability and efficacy of Z. officinale phytoconstituents through advanced encapsulation techniques. Methods: Two novel carrier systems were developed: (i) direct micro-spray encapsulation of Z. officinale in maltodextrin (MZO) and (ii) a two-step process involving the creation of a kaolinite-based phytocarrier system (ZO–kaolinite), followed by micro-spray encapsulation in maltodextrin to form the MZO–kaolinite system. Results: Comprehensive chemical profiling using GC–MS and ESI–QTOF–MS identified 105 phytochemicals, including terpenoids, gingerols, shogaols, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. Morphostructural analyses (XRD, FTIR, Raman, SEM) confirmed the successful development of the newly engineered kaolinite carrier systems (ZO–kaolinite and MZO–kaolinite systems). Both the ZO–kaolinite and MZO–kaolinite systems exhibited superior antioxidant activity, potent antimicrobial efficacy against major bacterial pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus cereus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli), and enhanced cytotoxicity against MCF-7, HCT-116, and HeLa cancer cell lines. Conclusions: This study underscores the synergistic action of kaolinite and maltodextrin in developing multifunctional therapeutic systems, emphasizing the importance of phytoconstituent stabilization and nanotechnology in addressing antimicrobial resistance and advancing innovative medical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Bioactive Compounds in Micro- and Nanocarriers)
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