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Pharmaceutics
Special Issues
Smart Materials for Advanced Drug Delivery Systems and Pharmaceutical Applications
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Smart Materials for Advanced Drug Delivery Systems and Pharmaceutical Applications

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2026 | Viewed by 1914

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Milena A. Vega

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Ingeniería Química y Textil, Universidad de Salamanca, Pl/La Merced s/n, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
Interests: nanomedicine; nanotechnology; nanomaterials; targeted drug delivery
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce the publication of a Special Issue titled “Smart Materials for Advanced Drug Delivery Systems and Pharmaceutical Applications”, which is dedicated to exploring the latest advances in the design and application of smart materials within the pharmaceutical industry.

The objective of this Special Issue is to bring together cutting-edge research that demonstrates how responsive materials, such as hydrogels, functionalized nanoparticles, and polymeric systems, are revolutionizing drug delivery by enabling controlled, targeted, and personalized drug release. These advancements allow researchers to propose innovative strategies that enhance therapeutic efficacy, minimize side effects, and better tailor treatments to clinical needs.

We invite researchers to submit their work on materials that are sensitive to pH, temperature, and other biological stimuli, as well as practical applications in cancer treatment, inflammatory diseases, vaccine delivery, and other relevant areas.

Dr. Milena A. Vega
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

  • smart materials
  • drug delivery systems
  • pharmaceutical applications
  • responsive materials
  • hydrogels
  • functionalized nanoparticles
  • targeted drug release
  • biological stimuli

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 7194 KB  
Article
Quality by Design (QbD)-Based Development of a Self-Nanoemulsifying Drug Delivery System for the Ocular Delivery of Flurbiprofen
by Ju-Hwan Jeong, Tae-Han Yoon, Si-Won Ryu, Min-Gyeong Kim, Gu-Hae Kim, Ye-Jin Oh, Su-Jeong Lee, Na-Woon Kwak, Kyu-Ho Bang and Kyeong-Soo Kim
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(5), 629; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17050629 - 9 May 2025
Viewed by 830
Abstract
Objectives: In this study, Quality by Design (QbD) was used to develop an optimized self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) as an ophthalmic formulation of flurbiprofen (FLU). Using a Box–Behnken design (BBD), an optimal SNEDDS composition was crafted, targeting enhanced corneal permeability and [...] Read more.
Objectives: In this study, Quality by Design (QbD) was used to develop an optimized self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) as an ophthalmic formulation of flurbiprofen (FLU). Using a Box–Behnken design (BBD), an optimal SNEDDS composition was crafted, targeting enhanced corneal permeability and increased bioavailability of the drug. Methods: The levels of each factor(X) were established using a pseudo-ternary diagram, and the Box-Behnken design (BBD) was used to evaluate the components of oil (18.9 mg), surfactant (70.7 mg), and co-surfactant (10.0 mg) to optimize the SNEDDS formulation. The response(Y) considered were particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), transmittance, and stability. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) were used to analyze the particle size and morphology. In vitro and ex vivo diffusion tests were conducted to assess drug flux and permeability. Result: Using a response optimization tool, the values of each X factor were optimized to achieve a small particle size (nm), a low polydispersity index (PDI), and high transmittance (%), resulting in a formulation prepared with 18.9 mg of oil, 70.7 mg of surfactant, and 10.0 mg of co-surfactant. The optimized SNEDDS exhibited a small particle size of 24.89 nm, a minimal PDI of 0.068, and a high transmittance of 74.85%. A transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis confirmed the presence of uniform spherical nanoemulsion droplets with an observed mean diameter of less than 25 nm, corroborating the dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements. Furthermore, the SNEDDS demonstrated improved stability under the stress conditions of heating–cooling cycles, with no phase separation, creaming, or caking observed and no differences in its particle size, PDI, or transmittance. In vitro and ex vivo diffusion tests demonstrated that the flux of the optimized SNEDDS (2.723 ± 0.133 mg/cm2, 5.446 ± 0.390 μg/cm2) was about 2.5 and 4 times higher than that of the drug dispersion, and the initial diffusion was faster, which is suitable for the characteristics of eye drops. Conclusions: Therefore, the formulation of a flurbiprofen-loaded SNEDDS (FLU-SNE) was successfully optimized using the QbD approach. The optimized FLU-SNE exhibited excellent stability and enhanced permeability, suggesting its potential effectiveness in treating various ocular inflammations, including uveitis and cystoid macular edema. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Materials for Advanced Drug Delivery Systems and Pharmaceutical Applications)
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21 pages, 5352 KB  
Article
Kollicoat® Smartseal 100P for Developing Theophylline Pellets: Exploring Taste-Masking Potential for Pediatric Applications
by Neeraja Komanduri, Mashan Almutairi, Rasha M. Elkanayati, Nagireddy Dumpa, Arun Butreddy, Suresh Bandari and Michael A. Repka
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(4), 413; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17040413 - 25 Mar 2025
Viewed by 694
Abstract
Background/Objectives: This study aimed to develop and evaluate taste-masked theophylline pellets using hot-melt extrusion (HME) technology. Additionally, the study evaluates the efficacy of various taste-masking polymers by comparing three pH-dependent polymers, Kollicoat® Smartseal 100P, Eudragit® EPO, and Kollicoat® MAE 100-55, [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: This study aimed to develop and evaluate taste-masked theophylline pellets using hot-melt extrusion (HME) technology. Additionally, the study evaluates the efficacy of various taste-masking polymers by comparing three pH-dependent polymers, Kollicoat® Smartseal 100P, Eudragit® EPO, and Kollicoat® MAE 100-55, in masking taste and optimizing drug release. Methods: Formulations were designed with varying drug loads (10%, 20%, and 30%) and plasticizer concentrations (20% and 30% PEG 1500). Lead formulations were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), bitter threshold level, and in vitro release testing. Stability was assessed under accelerated conditions (40 °C ± 2 °C and 75% ± 5% RH) for three months. Results: DSC confirmed homogenous dispersion of the drug within the polymer matrix. The optimized formulation comprising 20% theophylline, 20% PEG 1500, and 60% Kollicoat® Smartseal 100P demonstrated effective taste masking, releasing only 1.1% of the drug in simulated salivary fluid (SSF) within two minutes, significantly lower than the pure drug (29.5%, p < 0.05), Kollicoat® MAE 100-55 (2.8%, p < 0.05), and comparable to Eudragit® EPO (2.1%, p > 0.05). Solubility studies further confirmed that theophylline release from the lead formulations remained well below its reported bitter threshold, which could prevent taste perception and mitigate bitterness. In gastric fluid, complete drug release was achieved from Kollicoat® Smartseal 100P and Eudragit® EPO, while Kollicoat® MAE 100-55 exhibited limited release. Stability studies showed that the Kollicoat® Smartseal 100P formulation maintained its texture, taste-masking efficacy, and dissolution profile under accelerated conditions. Conclusions: The study demonstrates the novel exploration of Kollicoat® Smartseal 100P for HME application, and its effectiveness in achieving robust taste masking for theophylline, improving patient compliance, particularly in pediatric and geriatric populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Materials for Advanced Drug Delivery Systems and Pharmaceutical Applications)
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