Advances in Polymeric Systems for Vaginal and/or Rectal Drug Delivery
A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Applications".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 February 2022) | Viewed by 721
Special Issue Editors
Interests: drug controlled release; HIV; microbicides; mucoadhesiveness; natural polymers; vaginal route
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: film technology; HIV/ADS prevention; mucoadhesion; topical pre-exposure prophylaxis; vaginal drug delivery
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
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Dear Colleagues, Vaginal and rectal administration routes are two versatile options for drug delivery that can be applied to both local and systemic therapy. However, the physiological characteristics of these routes still pose a challenge for drug administration. The vagina poses multiple challenges for drug delivery, as the mucus barrier, acid pH, low available fluid, and vaginal clearance could make the retention of administered formulations as well as the release of drugs difficult. However, it still provides advantages for drug absorption due to the large epithelial surface and vascularization in this area, and mucus can also provide a substrate for mucoadhesive formulations. The rectum, however, presents a high risk of irritation when administering some dosage forms, and absorption through rectal mucosa can give rise to an irregular uptake of drugs. Moreover, the presence of stool may make the retention of the formulation and the absorption of drugs difficult. However, it can still be useful for local treatment and could be the elective route for children or people with digestive afflictions. Many of these challenges can be overcome through polymer-based systems being able to adapt the characteristics of the developed formulation to the features of these administration routes. The focus of this Special Issue will be the advances in and promises of drug delivery systems for vaginal and/or rectal administration. Polymeric modifications or the novel application of polymers, including nanotechnology, to provide advantageous features to these systems would be of particular interest for this Special Issue. Thus, papers on polymer-based systems that improve crucial factors such as mucoadhesion, retention in the target site, enhanced absorption, or controlled drug delivery will be welcomed. We will also consider research and review articles concerning any application of systems, vaginally or rectally, applied for both local and systemic therapy, such as treatment of vaginal infections, microbicides for pre- or post-exposure prophylaxis of vaginally/rectally transmitted diseases, or contraceptives. The improvement of systemic absorption through rectal administration will also be recognized. Additionally, papers concerning acceptability by patients or adapting the therapy to users and circumstances (e.g., vaginal administration in situations such as pregnancy, pre- and post-menopausal women, or vaginal infections) will be welcomed. |
Dr. Roberto Ruiz-Caro
Dr. Fernando Notario-Pérez
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- Contraceptives
- Controlled release
- Drug delivery system
- Gynecological Oncology
- Microbicides
- Mucoadhesion
- Mucosal administration
- Nanotechnology
- Natural Polymers
- Pharmaceutical Technology
- Polymer modification
- Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)
- Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)
- Rectal administration
- Sexually Transmitted Infections
- Structural characterization
- Structural modification
- Vaginal administration
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