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Pharmaceutics
Special Issues
Microneedles for Drug and Vaccine Delivery
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Microneedles for Drug and Vaccine Delivery

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2025) | Viewed by 1837

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Hiep (Ben) Nguyen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, California Northstate University, 9700 West Taron Drive, Elk Grove, CA 95757, USA
2. Faculty of Pharmacy, Phenikaa University, Yen Nghia, Ha Dong, Hanoi 12116, Vietnam
Interests: drug delivery systems; formulation development; innovative technologies; research & development; topical and transdermal delivery

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Microneedles have emerged as a state-of-the-art technology in drug and vaccine delivery, offering minimally invasive, safe, and efficient administration of various therapeutic agents. This technology addresses critical challenges in conventional delivery methods, potentially improving bioavailability, patient compliance, and targeted delivery. This Special Issue aims to showcase cutting-edge research in this rapidly evolving field. We invite contributions exploring the design, fabrication, characterization, and applications of microneedles across various domains, including drug delivery, cosmetics, diagnostics, and vaccination.

Key areas of interest include the following:

  • Physical enhancement technologies;
  • Novel fabrication techniques;
  • Advanced characterization methods;
  • Innovative applications in drug and vaccine delivery;
  • Cosmetic and diagnostic applications.

We welcome original research, review, and perspective articles that push the boundaries of the current knowledge in microneedle technology. Your contributions will be instrumental in shaping the future of drug and vaccine delivery systems and advancing patient care across multiple therapeutic areas.

Dr. Hiep (Ben) Nguyen
Guest Editor

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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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

  • physical enhancement technologies
  • fabrication
  • characterization
  • applications
  • drug delivery
  • cosmetic applications
  • diagnostic
  • vaccination

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

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 2739 KiB  
Article
Microfluidics-Assisted Formulation of Polymeric Oxytocin Nanoparticles for Targeted Brain Delivery
by Emmanuel Adediran, Sharon Vijayanand, Akanksha Kale, Mahek Gulani, Jennifer C. Wong, Andrew Escayg, Kevin S. Murnane and Martin J. D’Souza
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(4), 452; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17040452 - 1 Apr 2025
Viewed by 377
Abstract
Background: The neuropeptide oxytocin has been identified as a potential therapeutic molecule. However, the therapeutic potential of this molecule is limited due to the challenges faced in oxytocin delivery to the brain. Scientific innovation has led to the breakthrough discovery of many modalities [...] Read more.
Background: The neuropeptide oxytocin has been identified as a potential therapeutic molecule. However, the therapeutic potential of this molecule is limited due to the challenges faced in oxytocin delivery to the brain. Scientific innovation has led to the breakthrough discovery of many modalities to encapsulate molecules for targeted drug delivery, which can enhance oxytocin delivery to the brain. This research aimed to explore a microfluidics-based system that optimizes the formulation of cross-linked bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticles encapsulating oxytocin. Methods: First, the formulation parameters were optimized using a design of experiments (DOE) by evaluating the effect of flow rate, polymer concentration, and the binary solvent mixture polarity on the nanoparticle size. Drug encapsulation efficiency, release, and kinetics profile were characterized. These oxytocin nanoparticles were conjugated to rabies virus glycoprotein (RVG), a brain-targeting ligand, and the conjugation efficiency was determined. Results: The sizes of the nanoparticles were between 50 nm and 75 nm with a <0.4 polydispersity index. The encapsulation efficiency was >80%. Approximately 58% of oxytocin was released from the nanoparticles within the first six hours, showing an initial burst that is ideal for seizure control and thereafter exhibiting the Korsmeyer–Peppas release kinetics. Conclusions: For the first time, we demonstrated the microfluidics method of formulating nanoparticles with particle size of less than 100 nm, with improved encapsulation efficiency and optimal release profile for oxytocin brain delivery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microneedles for Drug and Vaccine Delivery)
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24 pages, 25708 KiB  
Article
Modelling Hollow Microneedle-Mediated Drug Delivery in Skin Considering Drug Binding
by Tanmoy Bhuimali, Sarifuddin, Diganta Bhusan Das and Prashanta Kumar Mandal
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(1), 105; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17010105 - 14 Jan 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 933
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Microneedle(MN)-based drug delivery is one of the potential approaches to overcome the limitations of oral and hypodermic needle delivery. An in silico model has been developed for hollow microneedle (HMN)-based drug delivery in the skin and its subsequent absorption in the blood [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Microneedle(MN)-based drug delivery is one of the potential approaches to overcome the limitations of oral and hypodermic needle delivery. An in silico model has been developed for hollow microneedle (HMN)-based drug delivery in the skin and its subsequent absorption in the blood and tissue compartments in the presence of interstitial flow. The drug’s reversible specific saturable binding to its receptors and the kinetics of reversible absorption across the blood and tissue compartments have been taken into account. Methods: The governing equations representing the flow of interstitial fluid, the transport of verapamil in the viable skin and the concentrations in the blood and tissue compartments are solved using combined Marker and Cell and Immersed Boundary Methods to gain a quantitative understanding of the model under consideration. Results: The viscoelastic skin is predicted to impede the transport of verapamil in the viable skin and, hence, reduce the concentrations of all forms in the blood and the tissue compartments. The findings reveal that a higher mean concentration in the viable skin is not always associated with a longer MN length. Simulations also predict that the concentrations of verapamil in the blood and bound verapamil in the tissue compartment rise with decreasing tip diameters. In contrast, the concentration of free verapamil in the tissue increases with increasing injection velocities. Conclusions: The novelty of this study includes verapamil metabolism in two-dimensional viscoelastic irregular viable skin and the nonlinear, specific, saturable, and reversible binding of verapamil in the tissue compartment. The tip diameter and the drug’s injection velocity are thought to serve as regulatory parameters for the effectiveness and efficacy of MN-mediated therapy if the MN is robust enough to sustain the force needed to penetrate a wider tip into the skin. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microneedles for Drug and Vaccine Delivery)
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