Advances in Drug Delivery Systems for the Treatment of Chronic Wound Healing

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 2805

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, Laboratorio de Bio-Nanotecnología (LBN), Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Bernal, Argentina
Interests: emulsion; silver nanoparticles; micelle; would healing; nanomaterials; drug delivery

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, Laboratorio de Bio-Nanotecnología (LBN), Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Bernal, Argentina
Interests: emulsion; silver nanoparticles; micelle; would healing; topical nanodelivery

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Chronic wound healing presents a significant challenge in healthcare, often requiring innovative drug delivery systems to enhance treatment efficacy and patient compliance. This Special Issue will focus on the latest advancements in drug delivery systems specifically designed for chronic wound management. It will explore various topics, including the development and optimization of topical formulations, biomaterials, and smart drug delivery systems that can provide controlled and sustained release of therapeutic agents. This Special Issue will also cover in vivo and in vitro evaluations of drug delivery efficacy, biocompatibility, and wound healing dynamics, will feature studies on targeted drug delivery to wound sites, bioactive molecule encapsulation, and the role of nanotechnology in wound healing. We welcome original research papers and review articles that contribute to the understanding and advancement of drug delivery systems for chronic wound healing.

Dr. Carolina Martinez
Dr. María Jimena Prieto
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 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

  • wound healing
  • chronic diseases
  • wound repair and regeneration
  • drug delivery
  • topical formulations
  • biomaterial
  • nanotechnology
  • wound dressing
  • scar

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.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

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

Published Papers (3 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

22 pages, 45418 KiB  
Article
Development of an Ophthalmic Hydrogel to Deliver MG53 and Promote Corneal Wound Healing
by Heather L. Chandler, Sara Moradi, Spencer W. Green, Peng Chen, Christopher Madden, Luxi Zhang, Zhentao Zhang, Ki Ho Park, Jianjie Ma, Hua Zhu and Katelyn E. Swindle-Reilly
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(4), 526; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17040526 - 16 Apr 2025
Viewed by 472
Abstract
Background/Objective: A clinical need exists for more effective therapeutics and sustained drug delivery systems to promote ocular surface healing. This study tested the hypothesis that a novel biodegradable, thermoresponsive hydrogel loaded with the human recombinant (rh)MG53 protein, which we have demonstrated to promote [...] Read more.
Background/Objective: A clinical need exists for more effective therapeutics and sustained drug delivery systems to promote ocular surface healing. This study tested the hypothesis that a novel biodegradable, thermoresponsive hydrogel loaded with the human recombinant (rh)MG53 protein, which we have demonstrated to promote corneal healing without fibrosis, would exhibit safety and biocompatibility in vitro and in vivo. Methods: Hydrogel optimization was performed based on varying concentrations of poloxamer 407, poloxamer 188, and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. Hydrogels were characterized and potential toxicity was evaluated in vitro in cultured corneal epithelium, fibroblasts, and endothelium. In vivo safety and tolerability were assessed in mice and hydrogels were used to evaluate corneal healing following alkali injury. Results: The optimized hydrogel formulation did not result in any detrimental changes to the corneal cells and released functional rhMG53 protein for at least 24 h. In vivo rhMG53-loaded hydrogels improved re-epithelialization, reduced stromal opacification and vascularization, and promoted corneal nerve density. Mechanistically, rhMG53 reduced vascular endothelial cell migration and tube formation by inhibiting pSTAT3 signaling. Conclusions: Taken together, our poloxamer-based thermoresponsive hydrogel effectively released rhMG53 protein and enhanced multiple corneal healing outcomes. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 7150 KiB  
Article
Development of Films for Wound Healing Based on Gelatin and Oil/Water Emulsions as Carriers of Bioactive Compounds
by Ayelen M. Sosa, Celeste Cottet, Belén E. Berin, Luis M. Martínez, Mercedes A. Peltzer, María J. Prieto and Carolina S. Martinez
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(3), 357; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17030357 - 11 Mar 2025
Viewed by 877
Abstract
Background: Natural biopolymeric matrices for developing dressings have been extensively studied, as they may exhibit beneficial properties for wound healing. Gelatin possesses promising structural and physicochemical properties for incorporating active compounds (ACs). O/W emulsions are an alternative delivery system for AC with different [...] Read more.
Background: Natural biopolymeric matrices for developing dressings have been extensively studied, as they may exhibit beneficial properties for wound healing. Gelatin possesses promising structural and physicochemical properties for incorporating active compounds (ACs). O/W emulsions are an alternative delivery system for AC with different properties and solubilities, promoting wound healing. Objective: This study aimed to develop gelatin films by adding silver nanoparticles and healing agents encapsulated in an O/W emulsion to treat skin wounds. Methods: A film-forming dispersion was prepared using gelatin and glycerol as a plasticizer, and films were obtained using the casting technique. Emulsions with ACs (EAs) and without ACs (ECs) were incorporated into the films. The formulations were analyzed by FESEM and characterized for their mechanical, thermal, and swelling properties, as well as their water vapor permeability. Results: The results showed that films with a higher amount of emulsion exhibited greater structural rigidity and lower permeability, while films with lower amounts of emulsion demonstrated more elasticity and higher permeability. General and organ-specific toxicity were evaluated in zebrafish larvae. The films showed no lethal or sub-lethal effects on the morphology or activity of the brain, heart, and liver. Conclusions: The active films developed could provide stable support and a safe delivery system for active compounds to treat skin lesions, minimizing the risk of infection and the need to heal a wound. Full article
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

12 pages, 1987 KiB  
Article
Prilling as an Effective Tool for Manufacturing Submicrometric and Nanometric PLGA Particles for Controlled Drug Delivery to Wounds: Stability and Curcumin Release
by Chiara De Soricellis, Chiara Amante, Paola Russo, Rita Patrizia Aquino and Pasquale Del Gaudio
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(1), 129; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17010129 - 17 Jan 2025
Viewed by 921
Abstract
Background/Objectives: This study investigates for the first time the use of the prilling technique in combination with solvent evaporation to produce nano- and submicrometric PLGA particles to deliver properly an active pharmaceutical ingredient. Curcumin (CCM), a hydrophobic compound classified under BCS (Biopharmaceutics Classification [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: This study investigates for the first time the use of the prilling technique in combination with solvent evaporation to produce nano- and submicrometric PLGA particles to deliver properly an active pharmaceutical ingredient. Curcumin (CCM), a hydrophobic compound classified under BCS (Biopharmaceutics Classification System) class IV, was selected as the model drug. Methods: Key process parameters, including polymer concentration, solvent type, nozzle size, and surfactant levels, were optimized to obtain stable particles with a narrow size distribution determined by DLS analysis. Results: Particles mean diameter (d50) 316 and 452 nm, depending on drug-loaded cargo as Curcumin-loaded PLGA nanoparticles demonstrated high encapsulation efficiency, assessed via HPLC analysis, stability, and controlled release profiles. In vitro studies revealed a faster release for lower drug loadings (90% release in 6 h) compared to sustained release over 7 days for higher-loaded nanoparticles, attributed to polymer degradation and drug-polymer interactions on the surface of the particles, as confirmed by FTIR analyses. Conclusions: These findings underline the potential of this scalable technique for biomedical applications, offering a versatile platform for designing drug delivery systems with tailored release characteristics. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop