Biomaterial-Based Nanoencapsulation Systems for Drug Protection and Controlled Release

A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 631

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (IQUIBICEN), UBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires 1428, Argentina
Interests: nanotechnology; biomaterial; nanoencapsulation; controlled release; bioavailability

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The concept of nanoencapsulation falls within the area of nanotechnology, which is defined as any technology related to materials, systems, and processes that operate at a scale of ≤100 nm, although, in practice, a maximum limit of 500 nm is accepted. Nanoencapsulation encompasses processes that have the advantage of providing protection to the component of interest, drugs, and bioactive compounds. Nanoencapsulation techniques and processes have emerged as promising tools in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical sectors. An encapsulated bioactive would be trapped by a system that can preserve it from degradation, increasing its solubility and its bioavailability with the possibility of exerting a controlled release.

Biopolymers, i.e., polysaccharides, lipids, and proteins, are promising materials for constructing encapsulation matrices due to their characteristics such as abundance, biocompatibility, and non-toxicity. Furthermore, nanostructures could act as a versatile tool to enhance the therapeutic index of drugs, the bioavailability of which depends on the stability of the drug or bioactive in the oral, gastric, and intestinal environment, its solubility and mode of absorption, and, subsequently, its reach to the target organ.

Dr. Oscar E. Pérez
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • nanostructures
  • nanoencapsulation
  • drugs/bioactive compounds
  • biopolymer materials
  • controlled release
  • bioavailability
  • nanoproducts

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

26 pages, 11210 KiB  
Article
Perspectives on the pH-Influenced Design of Chitosan–Genipin Nanogels for Cell-Targeted Delivery
by Julieta D. Glasman, Agustina Alaimo, Cecilia Samaniego López, María Edith Farías, Romina B. Currá, Diego G. Lamas and Oscar E. Pérez
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(7), 876; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17070876 - 3 Jul 2025
Viewed by 429
Abstract
Background: Chitosan (CS) crosslinked with genipin (GNP) provides a mild, non-toxic route to generate nanogels (NGs) with enhanced integrity and colloidal stability. Objectives: To develop and characterise CS-GNP NG as a novel platform for targeted cellular delivery, optimising design through physicochemical [...] Read more.
Background: Chitosan (CS) crosslinked with genipin (GNP) provides a mild, non-toxic route to generate nanogels (NGs) with enhanced integrity and colloidal stability. Objectives: To develop and characterise CS-GNP NG as a novel platform for targeted cellular delivery, optimising design through physicochemical characterisation and biocompatibility evaluation. Methods: NGs were synthesised under optimised conditions by adjusting the pH of the CS solution, followed by high-intensity ultrasound (HIUS) to achieve disaggregation. Physicochemical characterisation was carried out using UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Rheological studies and SAXS analysis assessed structural properties. Biocompatibility was evaluated via MTT assay, and internalisation was monitored by fluorescence microscopy on mammalian cell lines. Results: NG formation was highly pH-dependent, with optimal configuration at pH 4.5, yielding stable, uniformly sized particles (~200 nm, ζ-potential +29 mV). Kinetic modelling showed a sigmoidal formation pattern, suggesting nucleation, growth, and stabilisation. FTIR confirmed covalent bonding between CS and GNP via primary amide bonds and Schiff bases. Rheology indicated pseudoplastic behaviour, and SAXS revealed a compact network formation. Biocompatibility assays confirmed non-cytotoxicity below 100 µg/mL and efficient cellular uptake. Conclusions: This study presents a rapid, reproducible protocol for generating colloidally stable, biocompatible NGs suitable for drug delivery. Full article
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