Current and Future Perspectives in Dermal and Transdermal 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: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 1072
Special Issue Editors
2. Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Sukileliu av. 13, LT-50162 Kaunas, Lithuania
Interests: dermatological products; design of experiments; in vitro release; ex vivo skin penetration; emulgels; hydrogels; polymeric films
Interests: clinical pharmacy; biopharmaceutics; transdermal delivery; pharmaceutical biotechnology
2. Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Sukileliu av. 13, LT-50162 Kaunas, Lithuania
Interests: dermatological products; rheology; in vitro release; ex vivo skin penetration
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Dermal and transdermal drug delivery continue to evolve as pivotal strategies for both localized and systemic therapy, driven by advances in formulation science, device technologies, and translational research. This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current achievements while critically exploring future directions that will shape the next generation of skin-based therapeutics.
The collection will feature original research articles and authoritative reviews addressing innovative formulation approaches, including lipid- and polymer-based carriers, nanostructured systems, and prodrug strategies designed to overcome the skin barrier and optimize therapeutic performance. Emphasis will be placed on physical and device-assisted delivery technologies—microneedles, laser-assisted permeabilization, iontophoresis, and wearable platforms—that are redefining the possibilities of controlled and patient-centric drug administration.
Contributions will also highlight advances in predictive models for skin delivery, encompassing in vitro and ex vivo methodologies, in vitro–in vivo correlations, and emerging in silico and AI-driven tools that support rational product development. Finally, this Special Issue will address translational, regulatory, and manufacturing challenges, including Quality by Design, bioavailability and bioequivalence assessment, and pathways for clinical implementation.
By integrating fundamental science with applied innovation, this collection seeks to offer a forward-looking perspective on how dermal and transdermal drug delivery can meet future therapeutic, technological, and regulatory demands.
Subtopics of interest include:
- Advanced formulation strategies for dermal and transdermal delivery;
- Physical and device-assisted technologies for skin permeabilization;
- Targeted and precision delivery to skin and systemic circulation;
- In vitro, in vivo, and in silico models for predictive skin delivery.
Any research topic on emerging platforms for dermal and transdermal therapeutics will be considered.
Dr. Modestas Žilius
Prof. Dr. Vitalis Briedis
Guest Editors
Dr. Agnė Mazurkevičiūtė
Guest Editor Assistant
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
- dermal/transdermal delivery
- skin penetration/permeation
- physical/targeted delivery
- device technology
- formulation approaches
- predictive models
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.


