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Pharmaceutics
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Novel Therapeutic Agents and Innovative Delivery Systems Against Infectious Diseases
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Novel Therapeutic Agents and Innovative Delivery Systems Against Infectious Diseases

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 10312

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Sara Consalvi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Life Sciences, Health and Health Professions, Link Campus University, Via del Casale di San Pio V, 44, 00165 Rome, Italy
Interests: drug delivery; medicinal chemistry; drug discovery and development; antimycobacterial agents; antiviral agents; tuberculosis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Innovative therapeutics against infectious diseases are urgently needed. The lack of a strong pipeline of anti-infective drugs, coupled with the rising prevalence of resistant and emerging pathogens, has led to a worldwide health crisis over the last decade, posing a serious threat to global health systems worldwide. To address these challenges, novel approaches to infectious disease drug development are required. This Special Issue sets out to explore cutting-edge advancements in the discovery of new novel therapeutic agents and innovative drug delivery systems against infectious diseases, particularly those targeting emerging and resistant pathogens. We aim to highlight breakthroughs in the development of small molecules, biologics, vaccines, and advanced drug delivery systems, such as nanocarriers, lipid-based formulations, and targeted delivery strategies.  

We welcome the submission of original research articles and reviews that advance our understanding and treatment of infectious diseases through novel therapies and innovative delivery strategies. The aim is to bring together diverse perspectives from pharmaceutical sciences, including drug discovery, formulation chemistry, pharmacokinetics, and preclinical/clinical development, with a focus on translational research to meet unmet needs in the treatment of infectious diseases. 

Dr. Sara Consalvi
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 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.

Keywords

  • medicinal chemistry
  • antibacterials
  • antivirals
  • antimicrobials
  • drug resistance
  • drug delivery
  • drug candidate
  • drug repurposing

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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25 pages, 11142 KB  
Article
Development of New Drug Against Multidrug-Resistant Candidozyma (Candida) auris by Mining the Genome of Marine Bacteria Vibrio sp. IRMCESH58L
by Eman Saleh Alhasani, Reem AlJindan, Nehal Mahmoud, Sarah Almofty, Dana Almohazey, Hoor Hashim Alqudihi, Sarah Hunachagi, Rahaf Alquwaie, Tharmathass Stalin Dhas, Sayed Abdul Azeez, Jesu Francis Borgio and Noor B. Almandil
Pharmaceutics 2026, 18(2), 266; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18020266 - 21 Feb 2026
Viewed by 865
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Candidozyma auris is the most frequent multidrug-resistant fungal infection in the Arabian Peninsula, with high mortality rates; therefore, new medications are in high demand. Microbes in marine habitats have genetically evolved to survive under a variety of adverse conditions, including severe [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Candidozyma auris is the most frequent multidrug-resistant fungal infection in the Arabian Peninsula, with high mortality rates; therefore, new medications are in high demand. Microbes in marine habitats have genetically evolved to survive under a variety of adverse conditions, including severe temperatures, salinity, pH, and other stress factors, by generating various bioactive metabolites. These bioactive secondary metabolites have strong potential for use as antifungal agents. Due to the shortage of antifungal medications and the emergence of treatment resistance in C. auris, identifying new therapeutics from synthetic bacterial components or natural materials has become a necessity. Natural molecules have numerous advantages over synthetic substances, including structural variation and low toxicity. Few next-generation sequence-based investigations have been carried out on anti-Candidozyma auris bacterial species to identify potential therapeutic candidates. Therefore, the aim of this study is to identify biosynthetic gene clusters from marine bacteria using next-generation sequencing to discover novel drug compounds against multidrug-resistant C. auris. Methods: More than 68 isolates were collected from various marine environments using standard techniques. All isolates were tested against the multidrug-resistant C. auris. Scanning electron microscopy was utilized to investigate the cell membrane rupture caused by defused metabolites of the IRMCESH58L bacterium in C. auris. The Vibrio sp. IRMCESH58L genome was sequenced using long-read nanopore sequencing technology. Results: The bacterial strain IRMCESH58L, isolated from a fish liver sample, showed the highest and most constant activity against C. auris. An in vitro toxicity test found that IRMCESH58L had no cell cytotoxicity against HFF-1 cells. The assembled plasmid-free genome is 6,556,025 bp (48.93% G+C), with an N50 of 909243. Comparative analysis confirmed its relation to Vibrio alginolyticus. Conclusions: Whole-genome analysis of the native bacterial strain IRMCESH58L revealed various biosynthetic gene clusters, including those involved in surfactin’s biosynthesis of putative natural anti-C. auris chemicals, but no pathogenic protein-coding genes, emphasizing the importance of marine bacteria in the fight against C. auris. Following this in vivo study, therapeutic targets will later be selected for further pre-clinical studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Therapeutic Agents and Innovative Delivery Systems Against Infectious Diseases)
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19 pages, 1594 KB  
Article
Dual Core-Shell Loaded Lipid-Polymer Hybrid Nanoparticles as Combination Anti-Infective Delivery Platforms
by Valeria Carini, Giulia Scagnetti, Joanne Foulkes, Katie Evans, Imran Saleem and Sarah Gordon
Pharmaceutics 2026, 18(1), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18010013 - 22 Dec 2025
Viewed by 1106
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The growing threat posed by antimicrobial resistance to worldwide public health highlights the urgent need not only for new anti-infective candidates, but also for innovative formulation strategies capable of mediating effective delivery of anti-infective compounds. The current study, therefore, aimed to demonstrate [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The growing threat posed by antimicrobial resistance to worldwide public health highlights the urgent need not only for new anti-infective candidates, but also for innovative formulation strategies capable of mediating effective delivery of anti-infective compounds. The current study, therefore, aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of formulating lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPHNPs) with dual loading of both core and shell compartments for combination anti-infective delivery. Methods: LPHNPs containing the antibiotic cefotaxime within a chitosan polymer core and the novel antimicrobial peptide RN7IN6 within a bacteria-mimicking lipid shell were produced by microfluidic mixing, and optimized with respect to parameters including total flow rate, flow rate ratio, and lipid concentration. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of cefotaxime and RN7IN6 co-incorporated in LPHNPs were assessed as a preliminary indicator of antibacterial efficacy. Results: Uniformly nanosized LPHNPs were produced, with maximized loading of cefotaxime and RN7IN6 within particle cores and shells, respectively. Empty LPHNPs showed an appreciable antibacterial activity, particularly against the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli, while RN7IN6 was indicated to enhance cefotaxime activity against E. coli when both actives were incorporated in LPHNPs. Conclusions: The current findings clearly demonstrate the feasibility of formulating LPHNPs for core-shell co-encapsulation and delivery of anti-infectives. The promising antibacterial efficacy of co-loaded LPHNPs warrants further in-depth investigation to determine the extent of co-loaded LPHNP applications as combination anti-infective delivery platforms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Therapeutic Agents and Innovative Delivery Systems Against Infectious Diseases)
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Review

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33 pages, 1610 KB  
Review
Advancing Tuberculosis Treatment with Next-Generation Drugs and Smart Delivery Systems
by Ayman Elbehiry, Eman Marzouk and Adil Abalkhail
Pharmaceutics 2026, 18(1), 60; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18010060 - 1 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1946
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a leading infectious killer, increasingly complicated by multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) disease; current regimens, although effective, are prolonged, toxic, and often fail to reach intracellular bacilli in heterogeneous lung lesions. This narrative review synthesizes how next-generation antimycobacterial strategies [...] Read more.
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a leading infectious killer, increasingly complicated by multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) disease; current regimens, although effective, are prolonged, toxic, and often fail to reach intracellular bacilli in heterogeneous lung lesions. This narrative review synthesizes how next-generation antimycobacterial strategies can be translated “from molecule to patient” by coupling potent therapeutics with delivery platforms tailored to the lesion microenvironment. We survey emerging small-molecule classes, including decaprenylphosphoryl-β-D-ribose 2′-epimerase (DprE1) inhibitors, mycobacterial membrane protein large 3 (MmpL3) inhibitors, and respiratory chain blockers, alongside optimized uses of established agents and host-directed therapies (HDTs). These are mapped to inhalable and nanocarrier systems that improve intralesional exposure, macrophage uptake, and targeted release while reducing systemic toxicity. Particular emphasis is placed on pulmonary dry powder inhalers (DPIs) and aerosols for direct lung targeting, stimuli-responsive carriers that trigger release through pH, redox, or enzymatic cues, and long-acting depots or implants that shift daily dosing to monthly or quarterly schedules to enhance adherence, safety, and access. We also outline translational enablers, including model-informed pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) integration, device formulation co-design, manufacturability, regulatory quality frameworks, and patient-centered implementation. Overall, aligning stronger drugs with smart delivery platforms offers a practical pathway to shorter, safer, and more easily completed TB therapy, improving both individual outcomes and public health impact. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Therapeutic Agents and Innovative Delivery Systems Against Infectious Diseases)
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38 pages, 4260 KB  
Review
Therapeutic and Formulation Advances of Ivermectin in Veterinary and Human Medicine
by Nicezelle Gernandt, Chanri Wentzel, Daniélle van Staden, Wilna Liebenberg, Hendrik J. R. Lemmer and Minja Gerber
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(11), 1384; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17111384 - 25 Oct 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 5747
Abstract
The treatment of parasitic infections has evolved in terms of effectiveness and the prevention of drug resistance. This is highlighted by the discovery of ivermectin (IVM), a macrocyclic lactone and broad-spectrum antiparasitic agent. IVM garnered scientific attention by presenting a therapeutic alternative in [...] Read more.
The treatment of parasitic infections has evolved in terms of effectiveness and the prevention of drug resistance. This is highlighted by the discovery of ivermectin (IVM), a macrocyclic lactone and broad-spectrum antiparasitic agent. IVM garnered scientific attention by presenting a therapeutic alternative in the field of veterinary medicine due to its control of multiple parasite species, including nematodes and soil-transmitted helminths. Shortly after its discovery, IVM was approved for human use by the World Health Organization (WHO) and United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for combating head lice, onchocerciasis, rosacea, scabies, and worm infestations within the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). In veterinary medicine, IVM is available in a range of formulations and can be administered via different routes (i.e., oral, topical, and parenteral), whereas for humans, IVM is only approved as a single oral dose and dermal cream. Establishing a comprehensive overview of IVM’s applications in both human and veterinary medicine is necessary, particularly in light of its repurposing potential as a treatment for various conditions and emerging diseases. Given its primary application in veterinary medicine, there is a need to enhance the development of dosage forms suitable for human use. Therefore, this review details the discovery, mechanisms, and applications of IVM, while also examining the challenges of resistance, side-effects, and controversy surrounding its use, to ultimately emphasize the importance of targeted, optimized IVM delivery via tailored dosage form development in animals and humans as part of the One Health approach to interlink innovations across veterinary and human medicine fields. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Therapeutic Agents and Innovative Delivery Systems Against Infectious Diseases)
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