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Pharmaceutics
Special Issues
Dosage Form Design and Delivery Therapy for Skin Disorders
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Dosage Form Design and Delivery Therapy for Skin Disorders

A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Physical Pharmacy and Formulation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 4653

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Luana Mota Ferreira

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Center for Studies in Bio-Pharmacy, Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba 80210-170, PR, Brazil
Interests: drug delivery systems; pharmacokinetics; health technology assessment; drug safety; clinical pharmacology; natural products
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Marcel Henrique Marcondes Sari

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Postgraduate Program of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Santa Maria, UFSM, Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brazil
Interests: nano-based formulations; cutaneous drug delivery; inflammation; polymeric films;topical drug delivery; hydrogels.
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Skin disorders affect millions of individuals globally, presenting a significant challenge in dermatological therapy. These conditions require effective and innovative therapeutic approaches for their management and treatment. The design of dosage forms and advanced drug delivery systems are crucial for enhancing the efficacy, safety, and patient compliance of dermatological treatments. Pharmaceutical forms designed for skin applications, especially those utilizing natural active ingredients, are gaining prominence due to their therapeutic benefits and biocompatibility. These forms enhance hydration, improve barrier function, and control the release of active compounds. Natural agents—including gums, polysaccharides, vegetable oils, and bioactive compounds—are increasingly incorporated into these formulations due to their ability to provide anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial effects, which are crucial for treating skin disorders. The integration of these natural ingredients into advanced delivery systems, such as nano-based formulations, further enhances their efficacy by improving skin penetration and ensuring a sustained release of active agents.

In this regard, we are pleased to invite you to this Special Issue, titled “Dosage Form Design and Delivery Therapy for Skin Disorders.” This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive platform for disseminating the latest research and innovations in the design and development of dosage forms and drug delivery systems for managing skin disorders. We encourage the submission of research that provides new insights into the formulation science, biopharmaceutical considerations, and clinical applications of skin disorder treatments.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews focusing on the design and development of dosage forms and drug delivery systems for managing skin disorders are welcome, as well as the following: contributions that cover a broad range of topics within this theme—including dosage forms such as emulsions, creams, hydrogels, polymeric films, and nano-based formulations tailored specifically for skin applications; advanced drug delivery systems, particularly those designed to enhance drug penetration, retention, and targeted delivery to affected skin areas; and formulations incorporating natural ingredients (such as gums, polysaccharides, vegetable oils, and bioactive compounds), which are of interest due to their therapeutic potential and biocompatibility. This Issue seeks to highlight therapeutic applications in treating skin disorders, including acne, eczema, psoriasis, skin infections, and wound healing. Mechanistic studies that elucidate the mechanisms of drug action, skin absorption, and the interaction of formulations with skin tissues are also welcome. Additionally, the safety, efficacy, and stability of new dosage forms and delivery systems will be assessed through comprehensive in vitro and in vivo models, ensuring their potential for clinical use.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Luana Mota Ferreira
Dr. Marcel Henrique Marcondes Sari
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

  • skin therapy
  • skin dosage forms
  • skin delivery
  • formulations design
  • natural agents
  • polysaccharides
  • vegetable oils
  • bioactive compounds
  • antioxidant activity
  • anti-inflammatory activity
  • antimicrobial effect
  • dosage safety and efficacy

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 2418 KiB  
Article
Nanocrystallization Effectively Improves the Oral Efficacy of an Antileishmanial Chalcone
by Maria Paula Gonçalves Borsodi, Wallace Pacienza-Lima, Jaqueline Correia Villaça Menezes, Douglas Escrivani-Oliveira, Natalia Arruda-Costa, Alcides José Monteiro da Silva, Lucio Mendes Cabral, Patrick G. Steel, Ariane de Jesus Sousa-Batista and Bartira Rossi-Bergmann
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(4), 399; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17040399 - 21 Mar 2025
Viewed by 347
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a vector-borne neglected disease that can cause permanent deformities. Current chemotherapy based on injections with toxic drugs or oral miltefosine poses many drawbacks, urging the need for new oral therapies. Here, we proposed to increase the bioavailability of [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a vector-borne neglected disease that can cause permanent deformities. Current chemotherapy based on injections with toxic drugs or oral miltefosine poses many drawbacks, urging the need for new oral therapies. Here, we proposed to increase the bioavailability of NAT22, an intralesionally but not orally active antileishmanial chalcone, through nanocrystallization to promote its oral use in CL. Methods/Results: NAT22 nanocrystals were produced using a solvent-free green process of dry and wet milling that reduced NAT22 crystal sizes by around 1500-fold to 257 nm (nanoNAT22). Such reduction in size increased water solubility by 15-fold to 4.3 µg/mL and ensured stability in the absence of stabilizers for at least one month. Of note, nanoNAT22 in aqueous medium was more selective for parasites (SI = 35.2) than NAT22 in 1% DMSO (SI = 7.6). Leishmania amazonensis-infected mice treated with oral nanoNAT22 had lesion sizes and parasite loads similar to those achieved with intralesional Glucantime®, and significantly smaller than NAT22. Conclusions: Together, these results indicate that nanocrystallization is an effective process to render NAT22 chalcone also orally active against CL. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dosage Form Design and Delivery Therapy for Skin Disorders)
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29 pages, 5701 KiB  
Article
Polysaccharide-Stabilized Semisolid Emulsion with Vegetable Oils for Skin Wound Healing: Impact of Composition on Physicochemical and Biological Properties
by Giovanna Araujo de Morais Trindade, Laiene Antunes Alves, Raul Edison Luna Lazo, Kamila Gabrieli Dallabrida, Jéssica Brandão Reolon, Juliana Sartori Bonini, Karine Campos Nunes, Francielle Pelegrin Garcia, Celso Vataru Nakamura, Fabiane Gomes de Moraes Rego, Roberto Pontarolo, Marcel Henrique Marcondes Sari and Luana Mota Ferreira
Pharmaceutics 2024, 16(11), 1426; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics16111426 - 8 Nov 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1254
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The demand for natural-based formulations in chronic wound care has increased, driven by the need for biocompatible, safe, and effective treatments. Natural polysaccharide-based emulsions enriched with vegetable oils present promising benefits for skin repair, offering structural support and protective barriers suitable for [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The demand for natural-based formulations in chronic wound care has increased, driven by the need for biocompatible, safe, and effective treatments. Natural polysaccharide-based emulsions enriched with vegetable oils present promising benefits for skin repair, offering structural support and protective barriers suitable for sensitive wound environments. This study aimed to develop and evaluate semisolid polysaccharide-based emulsions for wound healing, incorporating avocado (Persea gratissima) and blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) oils (AO and BO, respectively). Both gellan gum (GG) and kappa-carrageenan (KC) were used as stabilizers due to their biocompatibility and gel-forming abilities. Methods: Four formulations were prepared (F1-GG-AO; F2-KC-AO; F3-GG-BO; F4-KC-BO) and evaluated for physicochemical properties, spreadability, rheology, antioxidant activity, occlusive and bioadhesion potential, biocompatibility, and wound healing efficacy using an in vitro scratch assay. Results: The pH values (4.74–5.06) were suitable for skin application, and FTIR confirmed excipient compatibility. The formulations showed reduced occlusive potential, pseudoplastic behavior with thixotropy, and adequate spreadability (7.13–8.47 mm2/g). Lower bioadhesion indicated ease of application and removal, enhancing user comfort. Formulations stabilized with KC exhibited superior antioxidant activity (DPPH scavenging) and fibroblast biocompatibility (CC50% 390–589 µg/mL) and were non-hemolytic. Both F2-KC-AO and F4-KC-BO significantly improved in vitro wound healing by promoting cell migration compared to other formulations. Conclusions: These findings underscore the potential of these emulsions for effective wound treatment, providing a foundation for developing skin care products that harness the therapeutic properties of polysaccharides and plant oils in a natural approach to wound care. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dosage Form Design and Delivery Therapy for Skin Disorders)
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25 pages, 6758 KiB  
Article
Comprehensive Advanced Physicochemical Characterization and In Vitro Human Cell Culture Assessment of BMS-202: A Novel Inhibitor of Programmed Cell Death Ligand
by Hasham Shafi, Andrea J. Lora, Haley M. Donow, Sally E. Dickinson, Georg T. Wondrak, H.-H. Sherry Chow, Clara Curiel-Lewandrowski and Heidi M. Mansour
Pharmaceutics 2024, 16(11), 1409; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics16111409 - 1 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1983
Abstract
Background/Objectives: BMS-202, is a potent small molecule with demonstrated antitumor activity. The study aimed to comprehensively characterize the physical and chemical properties of BMS-202 and evaluate its suitability for topical formulation, focusing on uniformity, stability and safety profiles. Methods: A range of analytical [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: BMS-202, is a potent small molecule with demonstrated antitumor activity. The study aimed to comprehensively characterize the physical and chemical properties of BMS-202 and evaluate its suitability for topical formulation, focusing on uniformity, stability and safety profiles. Methods: A range of analytical techniques were employed to characterize BMS-202. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to assess morphology, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) provided insights of thermal behavior, and Hot-Stage Microscopy (HSM) corroborated these thermal behaviors. Molecular fingerprinting was conducted using Raman spectroscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, with chemical uniformity of the batch further validated by mapping through FTIR and Raman microscopies. The residual water content was measured using Karl Fisher Coulometric titration, and vapor sorption isotherms examined moisture uptake across varying relative humidity levels. In vitro safety assessments involved testing with skin epithelial cell lines, such as HaCaT and NHEK, and Transepithelial Electrical Resistance (TEER) to evaluate barrier integrity. Results: SEM revealed a distinctive needle-like morphology, while DSC indicated a sharp melting point at 110.90 ± 0.54 ℃ with a high enthalpy of 84.41 ± 0.38 J/g. HSM confirmed the crystalline-to-amorphous transition at the melting point. Raman and FTIR spectroscopy, alongside chemical imaging, confirmed chemical uniformity as well as validated the batch consistency. A residual water content of 2.76 ± 1.37 % (w/w) and minimal moisture uptake across relative humidity levels demonstrated its low hygroscopicity and suitability for topical formulations. Cytotoxicity testing showed dose-dependent reduction in skin epithelial cell viability at high concentrations (100 µM and 500 µM), with lower doses (0.1 µM to 10 µM) demonstrating acceptable safety. TEER studies indicated that BMS-202 does not disrupt the HaCaT cell barrier function. Conclusions: The findings from this study establish that BMS-202 has promising physicochemical and in vitro characteristics at therapeutic concentrations for topical applications, providing a foundation for future formulation development focused on skin-related cancers or localized immune modulation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dosage Form Design and Delivery Therapy for Skin Disorders)
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