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Pharmaceutics
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Recent Advances in Nanodelivery Systems for Plant and Food Derivatives,...
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Recent Advances in Nanodelivery Systems for Plant and Food Derivatives, 2nd Edition

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 (20 May 2025) | Viewed by 7776

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Anna Rita Bilia

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Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy
Interests: natural products; drug delivery systems; nanocarriers; topical administration; oral administration; brain delivery
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Giulia Vanti

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
Interests: pharmaceutical technology; nanodelivery system; dermal and mucosal delivery; natural product formulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Eleonora Truzzi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy
Interests: NMR; food chemistry; functional foods; food authentication; metabolomics; analytical chemistry; chromatography; chemometrics; drug delivery systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to collect contributions in the field of pharmaceutical nanotechnology applied to plant and food derivatives, also considering the possibility of using plant and food as a source of bioactive components of nanodelivery systems.

Many constituents of plants and foods have numerous biological activities, but they do not possess drug-like characteristics, with consequently limited efficacy and clinical use. Recently, many food macromolecules have been reported for health-promoting effects, but they have low application in functional foods, food supplements, medical devices, or medicine because of their inefficient systemic delivery and poor oral bioavailability. However, they have attracted considerable attention as structural components of nanocarriers due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, renewable origin, and easy modification.

Therefore, nanotechnology encases the prospective of offering many strategies to improve the efficacy of natural derivatives from plants and foods and an application platform for their chemical, nutritional, and pharmaceutical potential.

Prof. Dr. Anna Rita Bilia
Dr. Giulia Vanti
Dr. Eleonora Truzzi
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

  • nanodelivery system
  • liposome
  • nanovesicle
  • nanoparticle
  • nanoemulsion
  • food-macromolecule-based nanodelivery systems
  • bioavailability
  • controlled release
  • natural products
  • functional food
  • food supplements
  • plant derivatives
  • herbal drugs

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 15268 KiB  
Article
Pickering Double Emulsions Stabilized with Chitin Nanocrystals and Myristic Acid-Functionalized Silica Nanoparticles for Curcumin and Chlorogenic Acid Co-Delivery
by Javier Paredes-Toledo, Javier Herrera, Javier Morales, Paz Robert, Joaquín Gómez-Estaca and Begoña Giménez
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(4), 521; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17040521 - 16 Apr 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2711
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Double emulsions (DEs) enable the simultaneous encapsulation of water-soluble and oil-soluble bioactive compounds. Their stability can be enhanced through Pickering stabilization, where solid particles are irreversibly anchored at the interfaces, forming a steric barrier. This study aimed to evaluate the release [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Double emulsions (DEs) enable the simultaneous encapsulation of water-soluble and oil-soluble bioactive compounds. Their stability can be enhanced through Pickering stabilization, where solid particles are irreversibly anchored at the interfaces, forming a steric barrier. This study aimed to evaluate the release behavior of curcumin and chlorogenic acid (CA) in Pickering DEs formulated with chitin nanocrystals (ChNCs) stabilizing the outer interface (DE-ChNC) and both ChNCs and myristic acid-functionalized silica nanoparticles (SNPs-C14) stabilizing the outer and inner interfaces (DE-ChNC-C14) under in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. Methods: The optimal homogenization parameters (time and speed) for stabilizing the external interface with ChNCs were determined using a statistical design. Pickering DEs were characterized (droplet size and size distribution, microstructure, creaming, encapsulation efficiency and stability, rheological behavior) and subjected to the INFOGEST digestion method. Results: ChNCs effectively maintained the droplet size, microstructure, and ζ-potential, preventing coalescence and creaming while enhancing viscosity and gel-like behavior, contributing to improved physical stability. The CA encapsulation efficiency was higher in DE-ChNC-C14 (91.4%) than in DE-ChNC (45.0%) due to the presence of SNPs-C14 at the inner interface, which improved CA retention during storage. CA was gradually released from DE-ChNC-C14 throughout digestion, with bioaccessibility similar to that of the control DE (stabilized with conventional emulsifiers; ~60%). Curcumin bioaccessibility in the Pickering DEs was relatively high (~40%) but lower than in the control DE, as the ChNCs reduced lipid digestion and curcumin bioaccessibility. Conclusions: ChNCs and SNPs-C14 effectively stabilized the outer and inner interfaces of DEs, enabling the simultaneous release of water-soluble and oil-soluble bioactives with health benefits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Nanodelivery Systems for Plant and Food Derivatives, 2nd Edition)
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22 pages, 2800 KiB  
Article
Clinical and Market Analysis of NanoBEO: A Public-Worth, Innovative Therapy for Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD)—Emerging Evidence and Its Implications for a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and Decision-Making in National Health Systems
by Damiana Scuteri, Daniele Pierobon, Martina Pagliaro, Kengo Hamamura, Takafumi Hayashi, Loris Pignolo, Pierluigi Nicotera, Giacinto Bagetta and Maria Tiziana Corasaniti
Pharmaceutics 2024, 16(10), 1253; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics16101253 - 27 Sep 2024
Viewed by 2307
Abstract
Background: According to scientific literature, some 99% of patients affected by Alzheimer’s disease (AD) suffer from behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), also known as neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPSs). In particular, agitation is one of the most difficult disorders to treat. States of [...] Read more.
Background: According to scientific literature, some 99% of patients affected by Alzheimer’s disease (AD) suffer from behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), also known as neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPSs). In particular, agitation is one of the most difficult disorders to treat. States of agitation represent a very serious problem as they make these subjects dangerous for themselves and others and worsen as the disease advances. To date, there are no specific solutions for treating agitation. The only authorized drug is risperidone (as well as brexpiprazole, approved by the FDA on 11 May 2023), which can be used for no longer than 6–12 weeks because it increases the risk of death—owing to cardiocerebrovascular accidents—by 1.6–1.7 times. Methods: In order to address the latter noteworthy unmet medical need, NanoBEO was produced. The aim of the present work is to generate the health technology assessment (HTA) of this nanotechnological device. The latter consists of a controlled release system, based on solid lipid nanoparticles loaded with bergamot essential oil (BEO). Results: The results of the present research assessed the current evidence in the field of non-pharmacological treatments for this condition, including relevant primary preclinical and clinical data studies supporting the use of this device and the production of the operative plan for its launch on the market. The findings offer recommendations for decision-making on its implementation in dementia. Conclusions: NanoBEO represents a public-worth innovation in this neglected area, marking a significant advancement in the history of dementia, moving from academic research to product development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Nanodelivery Systems for Plant and Food Derivatives, 2nd Edition)
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Review

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31 pages, 4649 KiB  
Review
Plant Resin Delivery by Nanovectors as an Emerging Approach to Boost Solubility, Permeability and Bioavailability
by Eleonora Truzzi, Giulia Vanti, Lucia Grifoni, Eleonora Maretti, Eliana Leo and Anna Rita Bilia
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(1), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17010053 - 3 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1743
Abstract
Resins are complex mixtures of natural constituents containing non-volatile and volatile terpenes, in combination with gums and polyphenols, used since ancient times for their medicinal properties. Current research has evidenced their therapeutic value with a plethora of activities. The main limits of resins [...] Read more.
Resins are complex mixtures of natural constituents containing non-volatile and volatile terpenes, in combination with gums and polyphenols, used since ancient times for their medicinal properties. Current research has evidenced their therapeutic value with a plethora of activities. The main limits of resins and their constituents for their clinical use are low water solubility, poor stability and bioavailability. Therefore, nanovectors including vesicles, solid lipid nanoparticles, micelles, nanoemulsions, microemulsions and mesoporic nanoparticles have been investigated to optimize the biopharmaceutical properties after topical or oral administration of resins or fractions from them, including essential oils or single constituents. In this review, we report the results evidencing that developed nanovectors were able to entrap high amounts of resins or their components, modify the release properties, enhance their cellular uptake and penetration across biological barriers and optimize the biopharmaceutical properties. In addition, the resins or their fractions as enhancer penetration molecules can optimize the architecture and properties of nanovectors in their capacity to circumvent biological barriers. Although no clinical studies have been reported until now, nanovectors represent a huge platform for upgrading therapies and emerging new treatments of resins such as wound healing therapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Nanodelivery Systems for Plant and Food Derivatives, 2nd Edition)
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