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Pharmaceutics
Special Issues
PLGA Micro/Nanoparticles in Drug Delivery
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PLGA Micro/Nanoparticles in Drug 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: 10 November 2025 | Viewed by 1207

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ilaria Arduino

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacy—Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy
Interests: nanomedicine; drug delivery; controlled drug delivery; microfluidics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ilaria Andreana

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Dipartimento di Scienza e Tecnologia del Farmaco, Università di Torino, Via P. Giuria 9, 10125 Torino, Italy
Interests: polymer nanoparticles; active targeting; drug delivery; liposomes; nanotechnology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymer-based drug delivery systems have gained increasing attention as a promising platform for a variety of therapies, thanks to their favourable properties such as biocompatibility, tunable physicochemical properties, protection from in vivo degradation, controlled release of therapeutic agents, and ease of surface modification for targeted delivery. Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) micro- and nanoparticles have emerged as versatile carriers in drug delivery systems due to their biodegradability and ability to encapsulate a wide range of therapeutic agents.

This Special Issue focuses on the latest advancements and original work on PLGA-based drug delivery systems and their biomedical applications. Topics include surface functionalization methods, preparation techniques, challenges related to scale-up and interactions with biological systems, as well as translation and comparative studies. Research areas of interest may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Delivery and controlled release systems for drugs, vaccines, and biopharmaceuticals;
  • Drug targeting;
  • Innovative techniques for the production of PLGA micro- and nanoparticles;
  • Functionalization or medication of PLGA;
  • Improvement of nanocarrier stability.

Given the importance of research in this field, we are pleased to invite you to submit your original research articles and reviews to this Special Issue and contribute to a more sustainable and inclusive world.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Ilaria Arduino
Dr. Ilaria Andreana
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

  • micro- and nanotechnology
  • particle manufacturing
  • targeted delivery
  • particle characterization
  • biocompatibility
  • solubility enhancement

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 8085 KiB  
Article
Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(Lactic-Co-Glycolic Acid)–Paclitaxel (PLGA-PTX) Nanoparticles Evaluated in Ovarian Cancer Models
by Sylwia A. Dragulska, Maxier Acosta Santiago, Sabina Swierczek, Linus Chuang, Olga Camacho-Vanegas, Sandra Catalina Camacho, Maria M. Padron-Rhenals, John A. Martignetti and Aneta J. Mieszawska
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(6), 689; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17060689 (registering DOI) - 23 May 2025
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Abstract
We developed a novel biodegradable poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) polymer chemically modified with paclitaxel (PTX) to form a PLGA-PTX hybrid. Pre-modification of PTX enhanced its loading in PLGA-PTX nanoparticles (NPs). Background/Objectives: PTX is one of the most effective chemotherapy agents used in cancer [...] Read more.
We developed a novel biodegradable poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) polymer chemically modified with paclitaxel (PTX) to form a PLGA-PTX hybrid. Pre-modification of PTX enhanced its loading in PLGA-PTX nanoparticles (NPs). Background/Objectives: PTX is one of the most effective chemotherapy agents used in cancer therapy. The primary mode of PTX’s action is the hyperstabilization of microtubules leading to cell growth arrest. Although highly potent, the drug is water insoluble and requires the Cremophor EL excipient. The toxic effects of the free drug (e.g., neurotoxicity) as well as its solubilizing agent are well established. Thus, there is strong clinical rationale and need for exploring alternative PTX delivery approaches, retaining biological activity and minimizing systemic effects. Methods: The PTX modification method features reacting the C-2′ and C-7 residues with a linker (succinic anhydride) to produce easily accessible carboxyl groups on the PTX for enhanced coupling to the hydroxyl group of PLGA. The PLGA-PTX hybrid, formed via esterification reaction, was used to formulate lipid-coated PLGA-PTX NPs. As proof of concept, the PLGA-PTX NPs were tested in ovarian cancer (OvCA) models, including several patient-derived cell lines (PDCLs), one of which was generated from a platinum-resistant patient. Results: The PLGA-PTX NPs critically remained stable in water and serum while enabling slow drug release. Importantly, PLGA-PTX NPs demonstrated biological activity. Conclusions: We suggest that this approach offers both a new and effective PTX formulation and a possible path towards the development of a new generation of OvCA treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue PLGA Micro/Nanoparticles in Drug Delivery)
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19 pages, 2608 KiB  
Article
Delivery of PLGA-Loaded Influenza Vaccine Microparticles Using Dissolving Microneedles Induces a Robust Immune Response
by Emmanuel Adediran, Tanisha Arte, Dedeepya Pasupuleti, Sharon Vijayanand, Revanth Singh, Parth Patel, Mahek Gulani, Amarae Ferguson, Mohammad Uddin, Susu M. Zughaier and Martin J. D’Souza
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(4), 510; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17040510 - 12 Apr 2025
Viewed by 553
Abstract
Background: Influenza virus is one of the major respiratory virus infections that is a global health concern. Although there are already approved vaccines, most are administered via the intramuscular route, which is usually painful, leading to vaccine hesitancy. To this end, exploring the [...] Read more.
Background: Influenza virus is one of the major respiratory virus infections that is a global health concern. Although there are already approved vaccines, most are administered via the intramuscular route, which is usually painful, leading to vaccine hesitancy. To this end, exploring the non-invasive, transdermal vaccination route using dissolving microneedles would significantly improve vaccine compliance. Research on innovative vaccine delivery systems, such as antigen-loaded PLGA microparticles, has the potential to pave the way for a broader range of vaccine candidates. Methods: In this proof-of-concept study, a combination of the inactivated influenza A H1N1 virus and inactivated influenza A H3N2 virus were encapsulated in a biodegradable poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) polymeric matrix within microparticles, which enhanced antigen presentation. The antigen PLGA microparticles were prepared separately using a double emulsion (w/o/w), lyophilized, and characterized. Next, the vaccine microparticles were assessed in vitro in dendritic cells (DC 2.4) for immunogenicity. To explore pain-free transdermal vaccination, the vaccine microparticles were loaded into dissolving microneedles and administered in mice (n = 5). Results: Our vaccination study demonstrated that the microneedle-based vaccine elicited strong humoral responses as demonstrated by high antigen-specific IgA, IgG, IgG1, and IgG2a antibodies in serum samples and IgA in lung supernatant. Further, the vaccine also elicited a strong cellular response as evidenced by high levels of CD4+ and CD8a+ T cells in lymphoid organs such as the lymph nodes and spleen. Conclusion: The delivery of influenza vaccine-loaded PLGA microparticles using microneedles would be beneficial to individuals experiencing needle-phobia, as well as the geriatric and pediatric population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue PLGA Micro/Nanoparticles in Drug Delivery)
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