Pharmaceutical Innovations in Micro- and Nanotechnology for Topical and Transdermal Delivery of Synthetic and Biotechnological Molecules, and Herbal Extracts
A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 60
Special Issue Editors
Interests: polymorphism; solvatomorphism; quality by design (QbD); self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS); liquid crystals; aquasomes; microspheres; plant-derived bioactive compounds
Interests: medicinal plants; natural products chemistry; pharmaceutical formulations
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Micro- and nanostructured pharmaceutical systems have emerged as promising alternatives to conventional administration routes for topical and transdermal delivery, offering local and systemic therapeutic advantages such as controlled release, improved patient adherence, and the ability to bypass first-pass metabolism. The latest advances in this field have enabled the development of micro- and nanoscale carriers such as solid lipid nanoparticles, self-micro/nano-emulsifying drug delivery systems, bio-metal–organic frameworks, liquid crystalline systems, liposomes, invasomes, and other bilayer-membrane systems, as well as different polymeric micro- and nanostructures that significantly enhance the retention, permeation, and stability of distinct active compounds across the skin barrier.
This Special Issue of Pharmaceutics invites researchers and drug developers to submit original research and review articles that explore cutting-edge micro- or nanocarrier systems designed for local or systemic synthetic drugs, biotechnological agents, and bioactive compounds of plant origin. Emphasis is placed on the physicochemical properties influencing skin retention and penetration, formulation strategies for optimizing drug loading and release kinetics, and the integration of natural compounds with nanotechnology to achieve synergistic therapeutic effects. Furthermore, current challenges, including safety, scalability, and regulatory considerations, are discussed alongside future perspectives for their clinical use and market introduction. These innovations position pharmaceutical development in micro- and nanotechnology as a transformative approach for personalized and effective topical and transdermal therapies, aligning with the emerging trends in Biomedicine and Integrative Medicine worldwide.
Dr. Carlos Quirino-Barreda
Dr. Alejandra Rojas-Molina
Guest Editors
Dr. Javier Águila-Rosas
Guest Editor Assistant
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- micro- and nanostructured drug delivery systems
- topical and transdermal administration
- solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs)
- self-micro/nano-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SMEDDSs/SNEDDSs)
- bio-metal–organic frameworks (Bio-MOFs)
- liquid crystalline systems
- liposomes and invasomes
- polymeric nanostructures
- skin penetration and retention
- controlled release and formulation strategies
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