The Role of Nano/Microemulsions in Drug Delivery 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: closed (10 December 2024) | Viewed by 4687

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Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
Interests: nanotechnology; liposomes; nanoemulsion; model lipid membranes; drug targeting
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Classic microemulsions and nanoemulsions are transparent, stable, isotropic mixtures of oil, water and surfactants, often in combination with co-surfactants. Their nanosized dispersed phases have good shelf life (due to thermodynamic stability), large surface area, low viscosity (in some compositions) and ultra-low surface tension. Microemulsions and nanoemulsions have been intensively studied by many scientists and technicians over the past few decades due to their great potential in many food and pharmaceutical applications. The use of microemulsions and nanoemulsions is advantageous not only because of the ease and low cost of preparation but also because of increased bioavailability.

Microemulsions and nanoemulsions have been found to be effective carriers for dissolving certain drugs and as protective media for encapsulated drugs against degradation, hydrolysis, and oxidation. Increased drug absorption in topical applications is attributed to enhanced skin penetration of the carrier. Various potential mechanisms for enhanced drug penetration into the skin include direct effects on the skin and modification of the formulation, thereby altering distribution, diffusion, or solubility.

Research and review articles on nano/microemulsions that provide substantial advances to the field are welcome.

Dr. Sophia Hatziantoniou
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • microemulsions nanoemulsions
  • formulation physical
  • chemical characterization
  • drug delivery

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

41 pages, 1442 KiB  
Review
Innovations in Nanoemulsion Technology: Enhancing Drug Delivery for Oral, Parenteral, and Ophthalmic Applications
by Shery Jacob, Fathima Sheik Kather, Sai H. S. Boddu, Jigar Shah and Anroop B. Nair
Pharmaceutics 2024, 16(10), 1333; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics16101333 - 17 Oct 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4178
Abstract
Nanoemulsions (NEs) are submicron-sized heterogeneous biphasic liquid systems stabilized by surfactants. They are physically transparent or translucent, optically isotropic, and kinetically stable, with droplet sizes ranging from 20 to 500 nm. Their unique properties, such as high surface area, small droplet size, enhanced [...] Read more.
Nanoemulsions (NEs) are submicron-sized heterogeneous biphasic liquid systems stabilized by surfactants. They are physically transparent or translucent, optically isotropic, and kinetically stable, with droplet sizes ranging from 20 to 500 nm. Their unique properties, such as high surface area, small droplet size, enhanced bioavailability, excellent physical stability, and rapid digestibility, make them ideal for encapsulating various active substances. This review focuses on recent advancements, future prospects, and challenges in the field of NEs, particularly in oral, parenteral, and ophthalmic delivery. It also discusses recent clinical trials and patents. Different types of in vitro and in vivo NE characterization techniques are summarized. High-energy and low-energy preparation methods are briefly described with diagrams. Formulation considerations and commonly used excipients for oral, ocular, and ophthalmic drug delivery are presented. The review emphasizes the need for new functional excipients to improve the permeation of large molecular weight unstable proteins, oligonucleotides, and hydrophilic drugs to advance drug delivery rapidly. Full article
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