New Therapeutic Approaches for the Application of Natural Products in Skin Diseases

A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Biopharmaceutics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 1687

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department for Biology of Reproduction, INEP Institute for Application of Nuclear Energy, University of Belgrade, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: in vitro and in vivo toxicology; cell biology; examination of natural products bioactivities in various pathological processes (autoimmune diseases, ageing, etc.); examination of nanomaterials and cell-based products such as extracellular vesicles in human health and regenerative medicine

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of the Development of Diagnostic Tests for Use in Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, and Food Safety, INEP Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy, University of Belgrade, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: extraction of biologically active compounds from plants and fungi; encapsulation of biologically active compounds; biological activities of extracts and encapsulates; food and cosmetic safety
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department for Biology of Reproduction, Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy (INEP), University of Belgrade, Banatska 31b, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: natural products pharmacology; toxicology; biomedicine of reproduction; phytonutrients; functional foods
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recent advancements in the field of dermatology have introduced innovative therapeutic strategies for managing skin diseases, focusing on improved treatment efficacy and drug delivery. The growing interest in the use of natural products for skin diseases has sparked therapeutic advancements aimed at overcoming bioavailability and stability issues, with a focus on evidence-based applications of phytochemicals for safe, multi-targeted treatment of chronic conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and acne. Advanced technologies such as microneedle patches, transdermal systems, and nano-delivery methods enable precise drug administration, while nanocarriers, such as liposomes and polymeric nanoparticles, enhance stability and bioavailability of encapsulated active compounds bypassing the limitations of traditional topical applications. Emerging sources of therapeutics, such as extracellular vesicle-based therapies, are increasingly being explored as non-invasive tools for delivering regenerative factors directly to damaged skin. These innovations collectively pave the way for more effective and patient-friendly treatments for skin diseases.

This Special Issue aims to showcase original research and review articles that contribute to advancing current knowledge in areas including, but not limited to, the following:

  • In vitro and in vivo evidence of natural products' activities in modulating skin disorders;
  • Identification of individual compounds responsible for skin health benefits and molecular docking analysis;
  • Transdermal/topical delivery systems with natural products for skin conditions;
  • Pharmaceutical skin formulations based on nanocarriers such as liposomes, nano-capsules, and polymeric nanoparticles containing natural products for skin conditions;
  • Use of extracellular vesicles in the treatment of skin diseases;
  • Regenerative therapies for skin diseases;
  • Clinical trials with natural product treatment of dermatological conditions.

Dr. Andrea Pirković
Dr. Aleksandra A. Jovanović
Dr. Dragana Dekanski
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.

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

19 pages, 2375 KB  
Article
Vitreoscilla filiformis Supernatant: A Novel Postbiotic Secretome for the Prevention and Treatment of Wound Infections
by Miranda Piccioni, Giuseppe Curcio, Alessandro Graziani and Donatella Pietrella
Pharmaceutics 2026, 18(6), 686; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18060686 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2026
Viewed by 198
Abstract
Background: Biofilms consist of complex microbial communities embedded in an extracellular matrix which confer resistance to the most used antimicrobial agents. Chronic wounds are often associated with burns, trauma, surgery, diabetes and peripheral vascular disease. They are characterized by a marked delay [...] Read more.
Background: Biofilms consist of complex microbial communities embedded in an extracellular matrix which confer resistance to the most used antimicrobial agents. Chronic wounds are often associated with burns, trauma, surgery, diabetes and peripheral vascular disease. They are characterized by a marked delay in wound healing favoring the development of microbial biofilms, which in turn further delay tissue regeneration. Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and methicillin-resistant staphylococci biofilms are found in chronic wounds, seriously hindering wound treatment. Vitreoscilla filiformis, a Gram-negative non-pathogenic filamentous bacterium, has been shown to improve atopic dermatitis by reducing S. aureus colonization and inducing antioxidant responses in the skin. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and regenerative activities of the V. filiformis supernatant (VFS). Methods: The effect of VFS on bacteria growth was assessed by microbial growth kinetics and biofilm formation and dispersal. Antioxidant potential was determined by DPPH-scavenging ability and reduction in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). The regenerative properties were assessed by scratch assay. Results: V. filiformis VFS holds strong anti-biofilm activity against S. aureus, S. epidermidis and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), acting during both biofilm formation and dispersion. The decrease in biofilm mass is accompanied by a significant increase in the planktonic form compared to the untreated cells. Moreover, VFS is characterized by an interesting antioxidant activity, as demonstrated by a cell-free DPPH assay and a neutrophil-based in vitro assay. In addition, VFS can stimulate tissue regeneration in human dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes. Conclusions: The demonstration of anti-biofilm, antioxidant and regenerative properties of V. filiformis supernatant could be exploited for the treatment of biofilm-associated wound infections. Full article
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

21 pages, 6814 KB  
Article
Design, Characterization, and Wound-Healing Evaluation of Sodium Humate Transferosome-Loaded Alginate/HPMC Dermal Patches
by Plamen Katsarov, Plamen Simeonov, Elisaveta Apostolova, Yana Gvozdeva, Radka Boyuklieva, Paolina Lukova, Ilia Bivolarski, Maria Koleva, Cédric Delattre and Vesela Kokova
Pharmaceutics 2026, 18(3), 290; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18030290 - 27 Feb 2026
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 829
Abstract
Background/Objectives: For successful wound management, dressings must be maintained in a moist environment to optimally enhance the microenvironment of the wound and efficiently deliver bioactive agents. Sodium humate has demonstrated potential wound-healing activity, although its topical delivery is still a challenge. [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: For successful wound management, dressings must be maintained in a moist environment to optimally enhance the microenvironment of the wound and efficiently deliver bioactive agents. Sodium humate has demonstrated potential wound-healing activity, although its topical delivery is still a challenge. This study aimed to develop and optimize polysaccharide-based dermal patches incorporating sodium-humate-loaded transferosomes and to assess their physicochemical and wound-healing properties. Methods: Transferosomes were obtained via thin-film hydration and prepared utilizing the Taguchi experimental design based on the impact of lipid content, lipid-to-surfactant ratio, and lipid-to-drug ratio on vesicle size, ζ-potential, and drug entrapment efficiency. The optimized transferosomes were loaded into alginate/HPMC composite dermal patches prepared through solvent evaporation. Results: The optimized transferosome formulation had an average size of 250.9 ± 2.3 nm, a ζ-potential of −3.57 ± 0.25, a high deformability of 93.01 ± 2.41%, and an effective drug-entrapment efficiency of 30.13 ± 1.04%. The use of transferosomes greatly affected patch thickness, moisture content, and surface morphology. A biphasic drug release profile of sodium humate was demonstrated via an in vitro release study, showing an initial burst followed by sustained drug release within 6 h. In vivo evaluation of transferosome-loaded patches showed that the formulations were able to effectively promote wound healing compared with the control. Conclusions: The developed transferosome-embedded alginate/HPMC dermal patches constitute a promising platform for the controlled topical administration of sodium humate and show promising enhancement of wound healing. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop