{"title":"Challenges in formulating transdermal systems for treating chronic skin infections","authors":"Akshay Ramchandra Yadav , Shital Aniket Shinde , Shubhangi B. Sutar , Snehal Aditya Arvindekar , Dwi Marlina Syukri","doi":"10.1016/j.coph.2025.102540","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coph.2025.102540","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Chronic skin infections, such as those caused by bacteria, viruses, and fungi compromise the skin's physical barrier, allowing microbial incursion, biofilm formation, and weakened immune response. This microbial assault disrupts skin hydration, and pH and induces inflammation, making it difficult for drug formulations to penetrate and manage the infection effectively. Traditional therapeutic strategies face hurdles like poor drug retention, systemic side effects, and antimicrobial resistance. Transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS), on the other hand, offer localized and regulated drug release, decreasing systemic toxicity and improving bioavailability. However, physiological barriers, primarily the stratum corneum, limit the drug's capability to penetrate the deeper layers of the skin and necessitate the usage of permeation enhancers and advanced formulation techniques. Physicochemical barriers of the drug, including high molecular weight, lipophilicity, and solubility, also hamper transdermal drug absorption. Additionally, issues related to drug stability, release kinetics, and adhesive matrices affect drug retention, controlled release, and therapeutic efficacy in the infected skin, which might be compromised due to ulceration, hyperkeratosis, or excessive irritation. Novel strategies such as nanocarrier-based TDDS including liposomes, nanoparticles, and microneedles potentially improve drug permeation and bioavailability while treating chronic skin infections. Nevertheless, the challenges remain in adjusting the compatibility of the drug formulations with the infected skin, while maintaining its effectiveness. This review is a comprehensive look at the physiological and formulation challenges in TDDS for managing chronic skin infections. More real-world evidence is required to further refine TDDS formulations for improved permeation, stability, and clinical efficacy against chronic skin infections.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50603,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Pharmacology","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 102540"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144279824","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Amal El Daibani , Gwendolyn Burgess , Lauren Rysztak , Emily Jutkiewicz , Amynah A. Pradhan
{"title":"Delta opioid receptors: Overlooked outlier or the next big thing","authors":"Amal El Daibani , Gwendolyn Burgess , Lauren Rysztak , Emily Jutkiewicz , Amynah A. Pradhan","doi":"10.1016/j.coph.2025.102528","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coph.2025.102528","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The delta opioid receptor (DOR) is an often-overlooked member of the opioid receptor family, lacking the euphoric and addictive effects of mu receptors and the dysphoric properties of kappa. Instead, the DOR functions to restore balance, showing minimal impact in acute pain but alleviating allodynia and hyperalgesia associated with chronic pain and producing anxiolytic and antidepressant-like behaviors. Though past clinical trials for osteoarthritis and depression were unsuccessful, emerging evidence supports DOR’s therapeutic potential in migraine, substance use disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, and metabolic disorder. Advances in pharmacology, including structure-guided design and intracellular targeting, offer promising new directions for DOR-based drug development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50603,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Pharmacology","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 102528"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144189767","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Precision medicine and immunotherapeutic approaches for relapsed/refractory paediatric acute myeloid leukaemia","authors":"Caroline C. Smith , Sarah K. Tasian","doi":"10.1016/j.coph.2025.102546","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coph.2025.102546","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Despite improved clinical outcomes amongst children and adolescents/young adults with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) treated with modern risk-adapted frontline therapies, approximately one third of patients will relapse. Significant advances in comprehensive cytomolecular genetic diagnostics and correlation with survival outcomes via clinical trial data have identified paediatric patients with AML at highest risk of primary chemoresistance and/or subsequent relapse for whom new treatment approaches are needed. This brief North American-based perspective highlights promising small molecule inhibitors and antibody-based and cellular immunotherapies with demonstrated or emerging activity in specific high-risk subtypes of paediatric AML and outlines potential treatment strategies for children and adolescents/young adults with relapsed AML.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50603,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Pharmacology","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 102546"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144572759","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Raffaele Palmieri , Luca Maurillo , Maria Ilaria Del Principe , Adriano Venditti , Francesco Buccisano
{"title":"Fitness in acute myeloid leukemia, state of the art and future directions","authors":"Raffaele Palmieri , Luca Maurillo , Maria Ilaria Del Principe , Adriano Venditti , Francesco Buccisano","doi":"10.1016/j.coph.2025.102527","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coph.2025.102527","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is a complex disease whose outcome can be variably influenced by several clinical and biological factors. Although there is still no consensus on how to integrate these elements to best guide treatment choice, multiparametric models, commonly called fitness scores, have been developed to evaluate each patient's ability to tolerate therapies. These models consider various risk factors, including disease biology, comorbidities, physical and cognitive function. To date, several scoring systems can be used to categorize patients on their fitness for intensive or non-intensive therapies. However, existing tools mainly focus on identifying patients suitable for conventional intensive chemotherapy and fail to address the complexities of less-fit patients who might benefit from innovative intensive, less-intensive, and even maintenance strategies. As treatment landscapes are in constant evolution, identifying intermediate level of fitness through recalibration of existing scores or development of new ones should be prioritized. Considering all the above, this review aims to report on the state of the art of fitness assessment in AML and discuss possible future directions on this topic.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50603,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Pharmacology","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 102527"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143947657","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Lipid-based nanocarriers in topical applications for skin infections","authors":"Monali M. Upare , Koustubh Mansing Thorawade , Abhay Prakash Mishra , Manisha Nigam , Neti Waranuch","doi":"10.1016/j.coph.2025.102541","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coph.2025.102541","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Skin infections are a significant healthcare issue, particularly with rising AMR. LBNs like liposomes, SLNs, and NLCs hold promise for enhancing topical drug delivery in treating skin infections. They improve solubility, stability, and sustained release of antimicrobial agents, allowing deeper skin penetration. Their biocompatibility and ability to encapsulate various drugs make them effective against bacterial and fungal infections. However, challenges such as stability issues (aggregation, fusion, sedimentation, and oxidation), regulatory hurdles (lack of specific guidelines), and manufacturing scalability limit their clinical use. This article reviews the benefits, advancements, and challenges of lipid-based nanocarriers for treating skin infections through topical delivery.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50603,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Pharmacology","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 102541"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144204841","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sanjeevani R. Desai , Durgacharan A. Bhagwat , Anil Kumar Singh , Rupali Baban Kumbhar , Jiyauddin Khan
{"title":"Bioadhesive polymers in transdermal formulations for skin disorders","authors":"Sanjeevani R. Desai , Durgacharan A. Bhagwat , Anil Kumar Singh , Rupali Baban Kumbhar , Jiyauddin Khan","doi":"10.1016/j.coph.2025.102544","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coph.2025.102544","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Transdermal drug delivery (TDD) offer numerous advantages over conventional routes, including improved patient compliance and sustained drug release. Bioadhesive polymers play a crucial role in TDD, enhancing drug retention and controlled release. This review explores the applications of bioadhesive polymers in transdermal formulations for skin disorders, focusing on their adhesion mechanisms, structural modifications, and therapeutic potential. Natural bioadhesives like alginate and chitosan demonstrate anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound-healing properties, while synthetic polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) offer controlled drug release and mechanical stability. Despite their advantages, challenges such as adhesion failure, moisture sensitivity, and limited macromolecular drug delivery persist. Recent innovations, including self-healing hydrogels, nanofiber-based transdermal systems, and enzymatic drug carriers, present new opportunities for dermatological applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50603,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Pharmacology","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 102544"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144307973","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Allogeneic double-negative T-cell therapy for acute myeloid leukemia","authors":"Enoch Tin , Jongbok Lee , Li Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.coph.2025.102537","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coph.2025.102537","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>CD3<sup>+</sup>CD4<sup>−</sup>CD8<sup>−</sup> double-negative T cells (DNTs) represent a unique subset of T lymphocytes with potent cytotoxicity against acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Importantly, allogeneic DNTs do not induce graft-versus-host disease and have demonstrated characteristics suitable for off-the-shelf cellular therapy with promising efficacy in early-stage clinical trials. DNT therapy can synergize with conventional AML treatments and can be transduced with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). Notably, persistent CAR<sup>+</sup> T cells in patients, who achieved long-term remission, predominantly have a DNT phenotype. The unique and versatile therapeutic properties of allogeneic DNTs position them as a strong candidate among adoptive cellular therapies for AML.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50603,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Pharmacology","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 102537"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144155159","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Colloidal drug delivery systems for infectious diseases of skin","authors":"Sopan Nangare , Varda Joshi , Shrikant Magdum , Riya Patil , Vishin Patil","doi":"10.1016/j.coph.2025.102536","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coph.2025.102536","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Infectious skin diseases represent a major global health burden, demanding effective and affordable treatments. Conventional therapies often face challenges such as reduced bioavailability, enzymatic degradation, low permeability, and poor solubility. Colloidal-based transdermal drug delivery systems, including liposomes, ethosomes, niosomes, nanoemulsions, polymeric nanoparticles, micelles, solid lipid nanoparticles, etc., have emerged as promising alternatives. In brief, these colloidal systems enhance drug penetration, stability, biocompatibility, and customized release while improving antimicrobial efficacy against various pathogens and minimizing systemic side effects. In conclusion, colloidal formulations offer a targeted, efficient approach, optimizing therapeutic outcomes, improving patient compliance, and advancing the treatment of infectious skin diseases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50603,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Pharmacology","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 102536"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144168264","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Claudio Bucolo, Chiara M. Eandi, Sanjoy K. Bhattacharya
{"title":"Editorial overview: Advanced therapies and new targets in ocular diseases","authors":"Claudio Bucolo, Chiara M. Eandi, Sanjoy K. Bhattacharya","doi":"10.1016/j.coph.2025.102543","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coph.2025.102543","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":50603,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Pharmacology","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 102543"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144221944","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}