Therapeutic deliveryPub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2026-07-01DOI: 10.1080/20415990.2026.2696195
Bassam Mohamed Jawahar, Munira Shahbuddin, Raha Ahmad Raus, Mohd Rushdi Abu Bakar, Irna Elina Ridzwan, Dayang Fredalina Basri, Nur Najieha Binti Mohd Pauzi
{"title":"Optimization of nanoemulsion formulations of <i>Piper sarmentosum</i> for topical application in skin cancer.","authors":"Bassam Mohamed Jawahar, Munira Shahbuddin, Raha Ahmad Raus, Mohd Rushdi Abu Bakar, Irna Elina Ridzwan, Dayang Fredalina Basri, Nur Najieha Binti Mohd Pauzi","doi":"10.1080/20415990.2026.2696195","DOIUrl":"10.1080/20415990.2026.2696195","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>Topical delivery for skin cancer treatment is a better alternative for a highly localized tumor and lower severity of adverse effects associated with oral or parental administration of chemotherapeutic drugs. Topical delivery of drugs requires specific formulation properties to successfully penetrate the interior barriers of skin layers. Our previous in vitro study showed that essential oil (EO) from <i>Piper sarmentosum</i> inhibited both A375 (melanoma) and A431 (non-melanoma) cells, but not HFF1 (human fibroblast) cells. This study aimed to formulate a nanoemulsion incorporating EO from <i>Piper sarmentosum</i> for topical treatment of skin cancer.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) was employed to optimize the nano-formulation conditions. Tween 80 and Span 80 were used to adjust the HLB value, and prepared using ultrasonication. Optimization was performed using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) at varying concentrations of EO (1-10%), surfactant mixture (Smix) (10-20%), and ultrasonic amplitude (20-70%). The three response variables are particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), and zeta potential.</p><p><strong>Results and conclusion: </strong>Our results revealed an optimal HLB value at 13.83, followed by an optimal formulation comprising 10% EO, 10% Smix, and 33% amplitude yielding 27.69 nm, PDI of 0.245, and -13.1 mV. The optimized nano-formulation exhibited desirable physicochemical characteristics, suggesting its potential suitability for topical delivery.</p>","PeriodicalId":22959,"journal":{"name":"Therapeutic delivery","volume":" ","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13580368/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148370112","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Therapeutic deliveryPub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2026-07-08DOI: 10.1080/20415990.2026.2699035
Mahmoud H Khedr, Ali G Asem, Ahmed A Elbadry, Ahmed H Mahmoud, Wael M Elshemey, Medhat W Shafaa, Seifeldin Elabed
{"title":"Integrative <i>in vitro</i> - <i>in silico</i> evaluation of β-carotene-loaded nanoliposomes for targeted therapy against prostate carcinoma (PC-3) cells.","authors":"Mahmoud H Khedr, Ali G Asem, Ahmed A Elbadry, Ahmed H Mahmoud, Wael M Elshemey, Medhat W Shafaa, Seifeldin Elabed","doi":"10.1080/20415990.2026.2699035","DOIUrl":"10.1080/20415990.2026.2699035","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>This study evaluated β-carotene-loaded lecithin nanoliposomes as a prostate cancer nanoplatform and assessed whether B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) modulation could explain their activity.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Neutral multilamellar vesicles were prepared by thin-film hydration and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). PC-3 cells were assessed using MTT cytotoxicity, alkaline comet assay, Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide (Annexin V-FITC/PI) apoptosis analysis, and cell-cycle profiling. Docking, 100 ns molecular dynamics (MD), and molecular mechanics/generalized Born surface area (MM/GBSA) analyses examined β-carotene binding to Bcl-2.</p><p><strong>Results and conclusion: </strong>Encapsulation efficiency exceeded 90%. Free β-carotene showed the lowest IC50 (13.50 µg/mL), followed by liposomal β-carotene (28.26 µg/mL) and empty liposomes (36.41 µg/mL). Liposomal β-carotene produced the strongest comet-assay DNA damage and G0/G1 arrest, whereas free β-carotene induced the highest total apoptosis. Simulations showed stable hydrophobic occupation of the Bcl-2 BH3/BH1 groove. β-Carotene liposomes modulate cytotoxic kinetics and genotoxic stress, supporting optimized carotenoid nanocarriers.</p>","PeriodicalId":22959,"journal":{"name":"Therapeutic delivery","volume":" ","pages":"1-16"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13652086/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148413037","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Therapeutic deliveryPub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2026-07-08DOI: 10.1080/20415990.2026.2699022
Amit Ranjan Maity, Thyageshwar Chandran, Surya K Ghosh
{"title":"Tumor spheroids: opportunities for <i>in vitro</i> validation of anticancer drugs in imaging and targeted drug delivery.","authors":"Amit Ranjan Maity, Thyageshwar Chandran, Surya K Ghosh","doi":"10.1080/20415990.2026.2699022","DOIUrl":"10.1080/20415990.2026.2699022","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":22959,"journal":{"name":"Therapeutic delivery","volume":" ","pages":"1-3"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13652050/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148405972","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"\"Microneedles in breast cancer therapy: navigating treatment innovation amid biological and technological challenges\".","authors":"Mokshitha Pachipala, J Joysa Ruby, Venkatesh Dinnekere Puttegowda","doi":"10.1080/20415990.2026.2705087","DOIUrl":"10.1080/20415990.2026.2705087","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Breast cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide, with conventional treatments frequently limited by systemic toxicity, multidrug resistance, and high recurrence rates, particularly in triple-negative and metastatic subtypes. Microneedle (MN)- based drug delivery systems have emerged as a minimally invasive platform that bypasses the stratum corneum to enable targeted transdermal and intradermal delivery of chemotherapeutics, nanocarriers, and immunotherapeutics, with reduced systemic exposure. This review critically examines the design principles, fabrication materials, and functional types of microneedles (MNs) as applied to breast cancer therapy. The integration of MNs with nanocarriers, immunotherapy, and stimuli-responsive materials to improve tumor penetration, remodel the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, and amplify anticancer immune responses is discussed, along with key biological, safety, and regulatory challenges relevant to clinical translation. Microneedles offer great promise as a versatile platform to increase the effectiveness and safety of breast cancer therapies.</p>","PeriodicalId":22959,"journal":{"name":"Therapeutic delivery","volume":" ","pages":"1-17"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13580374/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148472949","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Therapeutic deliveryPub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2026-07-07DOI: 10.1080/20415990.2026.2700161
Ghassan Sonji, Nada Sonji, Afaf El Katerji
{"title":"Naturally derived excipients in injectable nanomedicines: a systematic review of pharmacokinetic performance, regulatory readiness, and future quality by design perspectives.","authors":"Ghassan Sonji, Nada Sonji, Afaf El Katerji","doi":"10.1080/20415990.2026.2700161","DOIUrl":"10.1080/20415990.2026.2700161","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Naturally derived excipients such as lecithin, chitosan, and hyaluronic acid offer biocompatibility for injectable nanomedicines, although material variability may limit clinical translation. This systematic review evaluated pharmacokinetic performance alongside regulatory and quality gaps.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase (2002-2025) were searched for nanocarriers (≤500 nm) incorporating naturally derived excipients with pharmacokinetic or physicochemical data. Risk of bias was assessed using SYRCLE, Cochrane RoB 2.0, ROBINS-I, and an adapted Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Descriptive synthesis was performed due to heterogeneity. The protocol was registered on OSF (10.17605/OSF.IO/6XA5M).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Sixty-three studies met inclusion criteria (48 preclinical, 15 clinical). Among preclinical studies reporting pharmacokinetic parameters, median 2.4-fold plasma exposure (<i>n</i> = 15) and 2.9-fold tumor accumulation (<i>n</i> = 18) increases were observed versus free drug. No included studies reported ICH Q8-aligned quality by design (QbD), multivariate modeling, or artificial intelligence. Fewer than 10% reported detailed compositional characterization or impurity profiling relevant to parenteral development.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Naturally derived excipients were associated with pharmacokinetic enhancement, but inconsistent characterization and limited adoption of structured QbD approaches may hinder regulatory translation. Certainty of evidence across outcomes was low, and prospective validation of proposed QbD strategies remains necessary.</p>","PeriodicalId":22959,"journal":{"name":"Therapeutic delivery","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13652060/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148397909","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Therapeutic deliveryPub Date : 2026-06-01Epub Date: 2026-07-10DOI: 10.1080/20415990.2026.2697643
Harshita Singh, Devika Unnithan, Nida Nehal, Ajay Pratap Singh Chauhan, Rabnoor Alam, Mohammad Kashif Iqubal, Rabea Parveen, Javed Ali
{"title":"A narrative review on nanogel-based topical delivery of chemotherapeutic and phytoagents for non- melanoma skin cancer treatment.","authors":"Harshita Singh, Devika Unnithan, Nida Nehal, Ajay Pratap Singh Chauhan, Rabnoor Alam, Mohammad Kashif Iqubal, Rabea Parveen, Javed Ali","doi":"10.1080/20415990.2026.2697643","DOIUrl":"10.1080/20415990.2026.2697643","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer (NMSC) arises from oxidative stress induced by ultraviolet (UV) radiation, ongoing inflammation, and genetic mutations that promote cell growth. Mainstream treatment often faces challenges of recurrence and toxicity, highlighting the necessity for more targeted therapies. Incorporation of multiple drugs with advanced nanotechnology appears to emerge as a promising therapeutic approach.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>This review analyses the effectiveness of multifactorial interventions for NMSC, addresses limitations with traditional treatments, highlighting how advanced technologies can overcome these challenges. The literature search was conducted through trusted databases to identify the included studies for systematically categorization, mechanistic understanding, formulation innovations and traditional relevance.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>This article examines the progress in nanogel-based systems for NMSC treatment over decades, emphasizing their adaptable design, stimulus responsiveness, and targeted drug delivery. These features enhance treatment effectiveness while reducing overall toxicity. It discusses a delivery system incorporating combinations of synthetic drugs and plant-derived compounds by means of nanogel as a carrier, demonstrating synergistic anti-tumor effects and improved safety profiles, making the treatment more potent, effective, and comprehensive. Despite positive outcomes in preclinical studies, significant translational challenges persist in formulation development and manufacturing, including drug-excipient compatibility, stability, reproducibility, scalability of nanogels and meeting regulatory standards.</p>","PeriodicalId":22959,"journal":{"name":"Therapeutic delivery","volume":" ","pages":"1-18"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13652079/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148424238","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Therapeutic deliveryPub Date : 2026-05-01Epub Date: 2026-05-22DOI: 10.1080/20415990.2026.2676411
Karan Maniar, Bindu Kumari Nagendra Yadav, Shreeraj Shah
{"title":"Preparation and evaluation of Prochlorperazine Maleate loaded nanostructured lipid carrier for the treatment of schizophrenia.","authors":"Karan Maniar, Bindu Kumari Nagendra Yadav, Shreeraj Shah","doi":"10.1080/20415990.2026.2676411","DOIUrl":"10.1080/20415990.2026.2676411","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Schizophrenia management using conventional oral antipsychotic formulations is constrained by poor bioavailability, extensive first-pass metabolism, and dose-related systemic adverse effects. Intranasal drug delivery using nanocarrier systems has emerged as a promising strategy for direct brain targeting by bypassing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) via olfactory and trigeminal pathways, thereby enhancing therapeutic efficacy while minimizing peripheral exposure.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>This study aimed to develop and evaluate Prochlorperazine Maleate-loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (NLCs) for intranasal administration to enhance brain delivery. Prochlorperazine Maleate, a dopamine D2 receptor antagonist used in schizophrenia management, was selected due to its poor oral bioavailability and significant hepatic metabolism. NLCs were prepared using a lipid-based approach and optimized by varying lipid composition and surfactant concentration. The optimized formulation consisted of a solid lipid to liquid lipid ratio of 77.51:22.49 with 1.5% Tween 80. Evaluation parameters included particle size, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, <i>in vitro</i> drug release, release kinetics, <i>ex vivo</i> permeation, and stability studies. The optimized NLCs exhibited a particle size of 213.40 ± 46.53 nm, zeta potential of -32.7 mV, and entrapment efficiency of approximately 72%.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>This approach has strong potential for enhancing therapeutic outcomes in schizophrenia.</p>","PeriodicalId":22959,"journal":{"name":"Therapeutic delivery","volume":" ","pages":"383-393"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13349033/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148006804","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Therapeutic deliveryPub Date : 2026-05-01Epub Date: 2026-06-13DOI: 10.1080/20415990.2026.2682698
Le Yang Sen, Mikhaela Lorenzo, Mengistie Diress, Susbin Raj Wagle, Abril Mena Balborin, Bozica Kovacevic, Armin Mooranian, Hani Al-Salami
{"title":"Bile acids and nanotechnology as emerging platforms for drug delivery.","authors":"Le Yang Sen, Mikhaela Lorenzo, Mengistie Diress, Susbin Raj Wagle, Abril Mena Balborin, Bozica Kovacevic, Armin Mooranian, Hani Al-Salami","doi":"10.1080/20415990.2026.2682698","DOIUrl":"10.1080/20415990.2026.2682698","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Drugs are generally classified according to the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) based on their solubility and intestinal permeability. Group I drugs tend to have higher bioavailability due to their high solubility and permeability. Drugs in group II have low solubility and high permeability, while drugs in group III have high solubility and low permeability. Drugs in group IV have low bioavailability and require various techniques to enhance their delivery due to their low solubility and permeability.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>Bile acids are commonly known as biological molecules with surfactant capabilities and continue to be underutilized in enhancing the pharmaceutical profile of drugs. Hence, this review will explore some of the common drug delivery methods and will focus on the use of bile acids and various applications of nanotechnology to enhance drug delivery, including lipid nanotechnology, as well as carbon nanotubes and quantum dots. The authors aim to provide more insights into drug delivery research and contribute to the development of novel drug delivery strategies.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A literature search was conducted using ProQuest and PubMed, covering publications up to 10 years. Older references were included as appropriate.</p>","PeriodicalId":22959,"journal":{"name":"Therapeutic delivery","volume":" ","pages":"481-496"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13349015/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148253358","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Therapeutic deliveryPub Date : 2026-05-01Epub Date: 2026-06-25DOI: 10.1080/20415990.2026.2691617
Santiago Nicolás Campos, Cintia Alejandra Briones Nieva, Claudia Elizabeth Llanos, Alicia Graciela Cid, Analía Irma Romero, Mercedes Villegas, Eva Carolina Arrúa, Elio Emilio Gonzo, Juan Pablo Real, Álvaro Jiménez Kairuz, Santiago Daniel Palma, José María Bermúdez
{"title":"A decision-support workflow for the selection of mathematical models in drug dissolution and release studies.","authors":"Santiago Nicolás Campos, Cintia Alejandra Briones Nieva, Claudia Elizabeth Llanos, Alicia Graciela Cid, Analía Irma Romero, Mercedes Villegas, Eva Carolina Arrúa, Elio Emilio Gonzo, Juan Pablo Real, Álvaro Jiménez Kairuz, Santiago Daniel Palma, José María Bermúdez","doi":"10.1080/20415990.2026.2691617","DOIUrl":"10.1080/20415990.2026.2691617","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>In vitro</i> dissolution tests are an essential tool in pharmaceutical development. The wide variety of mathematical models available for interpreting the obtained profiles creates ambiguity and difficulty in their selection and application. The objective of this work was to develop a structured decision-support framework for the preselection of mathematical models in drug dissolution and release studies, integrating the initial experimental profile observation with model applicability criteria, physicochemical considerations, release behavior characteristics, interpretability aspects, and statistical evaluation. A review of classical and recent dissolution/release models was conducted, highlighting their constraints. Based on this information, a hierarchical and transparent workflow was designed to guide model selection in a more systematic manner. This workflow was applied to representative systems: hydrogels, polymeric films, modular systems (Dome Matrix), and 3D-printed pills, allowing the reduction of the number of candidate models and guiding the selection toward equations consistent with the observed phenomena. The methodology proved to be versatile and applicable to different release mechanisms. The proposed workflow constitutes a flexible and practical tool that facilitates the selection of mathematical models. It does not replace the researcher's judgment, but rather complements it, promoting a more transparent and reproducible use of mathematical modeling in pharmaceutical development.</p>","PeriodicalId":22959,"journal":{"name":"Therapeutic delivery","volume":" ","pages":"419-433"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13348917/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148319130","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}