Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
8.0
4.7
Journals
Polymers
Special Issues
Advances in Polymers for Drug Delivery Systems
polymers-logo
Submit to Polymers Review for Polymers Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Advances in Polymers for Drug Delivery Systems

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 February 2025) | Viewed by 4408

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Bruno Henrique Vilsinski

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Group of Biopolymeric Materials and Composites (GBMC), Campus Universitário, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n-São Pedro, Juiz de Fora 36036-900, MG, Brazil
Interests: polymers; drug delivery systems; nanocarriers; hydrogels; micelles; dendrimers; adhesives; cyclodextrins; polyelectrolite multilayers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymeric materials have been widely used in drug delivery systems. Through their application in drug carriers, sustained release systems, and targeted delivery systems, polymeric materials can improve the stability, controlled release, and targeting of drugs, thereby enhancing their therapeutic effects. At the same time, these systems decrease the side effects. In addition, polymer nanocarriers are considered ideal drug delivery materials due to their physicochemical properties such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, water solubility, controlled drug delivery behavior, and storage stability.

Depending on their structure, polymers can be classified as linear polymers, dendritic macromolecules, and hyperbranched polymers. When applied to drug delivery systems, polymers of different structures can be used to carry drugs in a variety of ways based on their respective advantages, including encapsulation of the drug in a reservoir within the polymer coating (reservoir type), embedding the drug into a polymer matrix (monolithic type), carrying the drug through polymer-drug affixation, and introducing a targeting factor to load the drug to a specific disease site. The greatest advantage is the possibility of incorporating drugs with different polarities and characteristics.

This Special Issue aims to provide a platform for academic exchange among scholars working in polymers for drug delivery systems based on micelles, hydrogels, adhesives, cyclodextrins, dendrimers, liposomes, etc. Any original or review articles in this field are welcome.

Dr. Bruno Henrique Vilsinski
Guest Editor

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. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2700 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

  • polymers
  • drug delivery systems
  • micelles
  • hydrogels
  • dendrimers
  • liposomes
  • cyclodextrins
  • polyelectrolyte multilayers

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.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

13 pages, 3765 KiB  
Article
Design, Characterization, and Release Kinetics of a Hybrid Hydrogel Drug Delivery System for Sustained Hormone Therapy
by Mohammed E. Ali Mohsin, Akhtar Jahan Siddiqa, Suleiman Mousa and Nilesh Kumar Shrivastava
Polymers 2025, 17(8), 999; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17080999 - 8 Apr 2025
Viewed by 527
Abstract
This study presents a hybrid hydrogel system designed for the targeted delivery of letrozole, a key therapeutic agent in breast cancer treatment. Letrozole-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles were embedded within a poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA) matrix coated onto acrylamide-grafted low-density polyethylene (AAm-g-LDPE), yielding a [...] Read more.
This study presents a hybrid hydrogel system designed for the targeted delivery of letrozole, a key therapeutic agent in breast cancer treatment. Letrozole-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles were embedded within a poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA) matrix coated onto acrylamide-grafted low-density polyethylene (AAm-g-LDPE), yielding a mechanically stable system with tunable drug release. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and confocal microscopy confirmed uniform microparticle distribution. In vitro release studies in simulated uterine fluid (SUF) at 37 °C demonstrated a sustained release profile over 32 days, with a reduced initial burst effect (~15% lower than conventional PLGA systems). The system’s release kinetics followed the Higuchi model (R2 = 0.803–0.996), indicating Fickian diffusion. This hybrid hydrogel offers enhanced drug stability, reduced dosing frequency, and potential for personalized hormone therapy, improving patient compliance, particularly for individuals with physical or cognitive impairments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Polymers for Drug Delivery Systems)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 3771 KiB  
Article
Effect of Reaction Parameters on the Synthesis of Cyclodextrin-Based Nanostructured Polymers for Drug Delivery
by Sema Salgın, Hasan Hüseyin Eke, Nagihan Soyer and Uğur Salgın
Polymers 2025, 17(6), 709; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17060709 - 7 Mar 2025
Viewed by 1206
Abstract
In this study, cyclodextrin-based nanostructures (CDNSs) were synthesized through the cross-linking of cyclodextrin (CD) with epichlorohydrin (ECH) as a cross-linker. Two types of CDNSs, α-CDNS and β-CDNS, were prepared to systematically investigate the influence of reaction parameters—such as the solubilization time of α-CD [...] Read more.
In this study, cyclodextrin-based nanostructures (CDNSs) were synthesized through the cross-linking of cyclodextrin (CD) with epichlorohydrin (ECH) as a cross-linker. Two types of CDNSs, α-CDNS and β-CDNS, were prepared to systematically investigate the influence of reaction parameters—such as the solubilization time of α-CD and β-CD, the molar ratio of ECH to CD, and NaOH concentration—on the physicochemical properties of the final product. Naproxen (NAP), a poorly water-soluble drug, was selected as a model compound to assess the drug-loading capacity of the synthesized CDNSs. The effect of each reaction parameter on NAP integration into the CDNSs was examined at varying weight ratios. The optimal reaction conditions were determined to be a solubilization time of 6 h, an ECH/CD molar ratio of 8/1, and an NaOH concentration of 33%. Under these conditions, the NAP loading efficiency of α-CDNSs was calculated as 67.12%. Comparative analysis revealed that α-CDNSs outperformed β-CDNSs in terms of drug-loading capacity. Additionally, the synthesized CDNSs and NAP-loaded CDNSs were characterized using FTIR, DSC, XRD, SEM, and Zetasizer analyses, while the NAP concentration was determined by HPLC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Polymers for Drug Delivery Systems)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

26 pages, 8913 KiB  
Article
Preparation and Characterization of Theophylline Controlled Release Matrix System Incorporating Poloxamer 407, Stearyl Alcohol, and Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose: A Novel Formulation and Development Study
by Molham Sakkal, Mosab Arafat, Priya Yuvaraju, Rami Beiram and Salahdein AbuRuz
Polymers 2024, 16(5), 643; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16050643 - 27 Feb 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2178
Abstract
Background: Theophylline (THN), a bronchodilator with potential applications in emerging conditions like COVID-19, requires a controlled-release delivery system due to its narrow therapeutic range and short half-life. This need is particularly crucial as some existing formulations demonstrate impaired functionality. This study aims to [...] Read more.
Background: Theophylline (THN), a bronchodilator with potential applications in emerging conditions like COVID-19, requires a controlled-release delivery system due to its narrow therapeutic range and short half-life. This need is particularly crucial as some existing formulations demonstrate impaired functionality. This study aims to develop a new 12-h controlled-release matrix system (CRMS) in the form of a capsule to optimize dosing intervals. Methods: CRMSs were developed using varying proportions of poloxamer 407 (P-407), stearyl alcohol (STA), and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) through the fusion technique. Their in vitro dissolution profiles were then compared with an FDA-approved THN drug across different pH media. The candidate formulation underwent characterization using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. Additionally, a comprehensive stability study was conducted. Results: In vitro studies showed that adjusting the concentrations of excipients effectively controlled drug release. Notably, the CRMS formulation 15 (CRMS-F15), which was composed of 30% P-407, 30% STA, and 10% HPMC, closely matched the 12 h controlled-release profile of an FDA-approved drug across various pH media. Characterization techniques verified the successful dispersion of the drug within the matrix. Furthermore, CRMS-F15 maintained a consistent controlled drug release and demonstrated stability under a range of storage conditions. Conclusions: The newly developed CRMS-F15 achieved a 12 h controlled release, comparable to its FDA-approved counterpart. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Polymers for Drug Delivery Systems)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop