{"title":"Is electroporation the key to drug delivery in drug-resistant cancers?","authors":"Julita Kulbacka, Vitalij Novickij","doi":"10.1080/17425247.2025.2471463","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17425247.2025.2471463","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94004,"journal":{"name":"Expert opinion on drug delivery","volume":" ","pages":"441-445"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143477007","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Transmucosal drug delivery: prospects, challenges, advances, and future directions.","authors":"Francis Brako, Joshua Boateng","doi":"10.1080/17425247.2025.2470224","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17425247.2025.2470224","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Traditional administration routes have limitations including first-pass metabolism and gastrointestinal degradation for sensitive drugs (oral) and pain associated with parenteral injections, which also require trained personnel and refrigeration, making them expensive. This has increased interest in alternative routes, with mucosal surfaces being of high priority.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>Mucosal routes include ocular, oral (buccal/sublingual), nasal and vaginal mucosae which avoid the limitations of the oral and parenteral routes. Though mucosal routes show great potential, they are still hindered by several barriers, especially for systemic absorption, resulting in the development of more advanced novel drug delivery systems to overcome these limitations and achieve therapeutic actions both locally and systemically, similar to or exceeding the oral route. This paper systematically reviews and compares the different mucosal routes, challenges, and recent advances in advanced novel drug delivery system design for emerging clinical challenges including the advent of large biological macromolecules (proteins, peptides, and RNA) for treatment and prevention of diseases. The review also focuses on current challenges and future perspectives.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>Among the various transmucosal routes discussed, nose-to-brain drug delivery has the greatest translational potential to go beyond the current state of the art and achieve significant clinical impact for neurological diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":94004,"journal":{"name":"Expert opinion on drug delivery","volume":" ","pages":"525-553"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143461032","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Al Zahraa Khalifa, Yvonne Perrie, Aliasgar Shahiwala
{"title":"Subunit antigen delivery: emulsion and liposomal adjuvants for next-generation vaccines.","authors":"Al Zahraa Khalifa, Yvonne Perrie, Aliasgar Shahiwala","doi":"10.1080/17425247.2025.2474088","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17425247.2025.2474088","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Developing new vaccines to combat emerging infectious diseases has gained more significance after the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccination is the most cost-effective method for preventing infectious diseases, and subunit antigens are a safer alternative to traditional live, attenuated, and inactivated vaccines.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>Challenges in delivering subunit antigens and the status of different vaccine adjuvants. Recent research developments involving emulsion and liposomal adjuvants and their compositions and properties affecting their adjuvancy.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>Lipid-based adjuvants, e.g. emulsions and liposomes, represent a paradigm shift in vaccine technology by enabling robust humoral and cellular immune responses with lower antigen doses, a property that is particularly critical during pandemics or in resource-limited settings. These adjuvants can optimize vaccine administration strategies by potentially reducing the frequency of booster doses, thereby improving patient compliance and lowering healthcare costs. While emulsions excel in dose-sparing and broadening immune responses, liposomes offer customization and precision in antigen delivery. However, the broader clinical application of these technologies is not without challenges. Stability issues, e.g. the susceptibility of emulsion-based adjuvants to freezing and their reliance on cold-chain logistics, pose significant barriers to their use in remote/underserved regions. Future developments will likely focus on improving manufacturing scalability and cost-effectiveness.</p>","PeriodicalId":94004,"journal":{"name":"Expert opinion on drug delivery","volume":" ","pages":"583-597"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143532266","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Novel strategies in topical delivery for psoriasis treatment: nanocarriers and energy-driven approaches.","authors":"Cheng-Yu Lin, Zih-Chan Lin, Yen-Tzu Chang, Tsai-Jie Lin, Jia-You Fang","doi":"10.1080/17425247.2025.2472968","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17425247.2025.2472968","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Psoriasis is characterized by abnormal differentiation and hyperproliferation of epidermal keratinocytes. This condition presents significant challenges for effective drug delivery. In addition to overcoming the thickness of the skin, topical treatments must navigate the complex hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties of the skin barrier. Recent advancements in nanocarrier technologies, including energy-driven methods and microneedles that penetrate the stratum corneum, present promising strategies for enhancing drug permeation through tailored physicochemical properties. A literature search was performed using the databases of Google Scholar, PubMed, and ScienceDirect.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>This review highlights recent studies on novel topical delivery methods for psoriasis treatment, addressing current therapeutic options and their limitations. We provide a comprehensive overview of chemical nanoformulations and explore physical strategies to improve delivery rates. Furthermore, we discuss the advantages of various formulations that can carry different types of payloads, offering patients diverse strategies for symptom management. The review covers conventional treatments, emphasizing advancements in nanoparticle design and novel macromolecular drugs. This includes Ribonucleic acid (RNA)-based therapies that protect macromolecular drugs from rapid clearance in the body.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>We argue that intelligent design approaches can enhance efficacy across delivery applications while allowing for precision in treatment strategies, ultimately improving patient outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":94004,"journal":{"name":"Expert opinion on drug delivery","volume":" ","pages":"565-581"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143506649","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Injectable pulsatile drug delivery hydrogels: how do we get to the clinic?","authors":"Kayla Baker, Todd Hoare","doi":"10.1080/17425247.2025.2472001","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17425247.2025.2472001","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":94004,"journal":{"name":"Expert opinion on drug delivery","volume":" ","pages":"447-453"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143485186","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Magdalena B Skarżyńska, Elżbieta Gos, Piotr H Skarżyński, Artur Lorens, Adam Walkowiak, Henryk Skarżyński
{"title":"Local delivery of steroids to inner ear via medical device INCAT (the Inner Ear Catheter) in partial deafness patients during cochlear implantation - preliminary results and a feasibility study.","authors":"Magdalena B Skarżyńska, Elżbieta Gos, Piotr H Skarżyński, Artur Lorens, Adam Walkowiak, Henryk Skarżyński","doi":"10.1080/17425247.2025.2466773","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17425247.2025.2466773","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The primary aim was to assess the effectiveness and safety of three different algorithms of using steroids and inner ear catheter (INCAT) MED-EL® in partial deafness patients who underwent cochlear implantation. The secondary goal was the assessment of the impact of the depth of INCAT on hearing preservation after cochlear implantation.</p><p><strong>Research design and methods: </strong>There were three algorithms of steroid administration: 1) methylprednisolone 62.5 mg/ml (solution), 3 patients; 2) methylprednisolone 40 mg/ml (suspension), 4 patients; 3) dexamethasone 4 mg/ml (solution), 3 patients. Pure tone audiometry (0.125-8 kHz) was performed preoperatively, 1 and 6 months post-op. Hearing preservation was assessed according to the HEARRING group formula. Impedance measurements were taken at two days, 1 and 6 months after surgery.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Patients treated with methylprednisolone 40 mg/ml in suspension showed the best hearing preservation (50% complete and 50% partial preservation) 1 month post-op and later remained the most favorable. The lowest impedance was found in this group both 1 and 6 months post-op. A shorter INCAT insertion depth appeared to be more favorable than a longer one.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our results suggest that patients treated with methylprednisolone 40 mg/ml (suspension) had better hearing outcomes compared to the other two medications.</p>","PeriodicalId":94004,"journal":{"name":"Expert opinion on drug delivery","volume":" ","pages":"599-607"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143426835","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Development of an intranodal drug delivery system using a mouse model with lymphadenopathy: novel discoveries and clinical application.","authors":"Tetsuya Kodama, Ariunbuyan Sukhbaatar","doi":"10.1080/17425247.2025.2471982","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17425247.2025.2471982","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The low drug delivery rate of systemic chemotherapy to metastatic lymph nodes (LNs) may be due to tumor growth without tumor neovascularization in the LNs, loss of existing blood vessels and lymph sinuses due to the tumor growth, and increased intranodal pressure. The lymphatic drug delivery system (LDDS) is a method of injecting anticancer drugs directly into the LNs and can overcome these problems. The world's first specific clinical study using the LDDS for head and neck cancer started in 2024 in Japan. In this review, the background of the development of LDDS up to the present clinical trials is described.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>The MXH10/Mo-<i>lpr</i>/<i>lpr</i> (MXH10/Mo/lpr) recombinant inbred model mouse, vascular and lymphatic flow through LNs, the clinical N0 (cN0) LN model, preclinical studies of the LDDS, and its clinical application to treat head and neck cancer.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>Conventionally, hematogenous and lymphatic administration have been the focus of attention for drug delivery to LNs. The LDDS is a method for injecting drugs directly to LNs, so it is important to develop a solvent and injecting method that can increase the uniformity of drug distribution within LNs.</p>","PeriodicalId":94004,"journal":{"name":"Expert opinion on drug delivery","volume":" ","pages":"555-564"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143495114","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"4D printing biological stimuli-responsive hydrogels for tissue engineering and localized drug delivery applications - part 1.","authors":"Alireza Sadraei, Seyed Morteza Naghib, Navid Rabiee","doi":"10.1080/17425247.2025.2466772","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17425247.2025.2466772","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The advent of 3D printing has revolutionized biomedical engineering, yet limitations in creating dynamic human tissues remain. The emergence of 4D printing, which introduces time as a fourth dimension, offers new possibilities by enabling the production of adaptable, stimuli-responsive structures. A thorough literature search was performed across various databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, to identify pertinent studies published up to 2025. The search parameters were confined to articles published in English that concentrated on peer-reviewed clinical studies.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>This review explores the transition from 3D to 4D printing and focuses on stimuli-responsive materials, particularly hydrogels, which react to environmental changes. The literature search examined recent studies on the interaction of these materials with biological stimuli, emphasizing their application in tissue engineering and drug delivery applications.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>4D printing, combined with smart materials, holds immense promise for advancing biomedical treatments, including customized therapies and regenerative medicine. However, technological challenges must be addressed to realize its full potential.</p>","PeriodicalId":94004,"journal":{"name":"Expert opinion on drug delivery","volume":" ","pages":"471-490"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143412034","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Olfaction and drug delivery to the human olfactory airspace: current challenges and recent advances.","authors":"Dennis Onyeka Frank-Ito","doi":"10.1080/17425247.2025.2467784","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17425247.2025.2467784","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Olfactory function, despite its critical role in human survival and quality of life, is often underappreciated. This could be associated with the fact that symptoms of olfactory dysfunction rarely occur in isolation as they are frequently concomitant with comorbidities. Furthermore, effective treatments for olfactory dysfunction largely remain elusive, and no standardized clinical practice for treating this dysfunction currently exist, thus complicating the initiation of appropriate therapeutic modalities. Intranasal administration of topical medication targeting the olfactory cleft represents a safe, noninvasive and potentially efficacious approach, but several challenges impede effective drug delivery.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>This review highlights the importance of human olfaction, assessment of olfactory function, underlying sources of olfactory dysfunction, and challenges involved in developing long-term and effective treatment modalities, particularly in the administration of topical medication to the olfactory cleft intranasally. Advancements in both device-related and administration-related modalities designed to enhance intranasal drug delivery are discussed.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>Clinical management typically prioritizes comorbid conditions, relegating symptoms pertaining olfactory dysfunction to ancillary concerns. Device manufacturers for intranasal administration likewise underestimate the complexity and variabilities of the nasal cavity, and how these impact drug transport. Synergistic implementation of device and formulation strategies can potentially yield enhanced olfactory cleft drug delivery.</p>","PeriodicalId":94004,"journal":{"name":"Expert opinion on drug delivery","volume":" ","pages":"511-524"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143426837","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"4D printing chemical stimuli-responsive hydrogels for tissue engineering and localized drug delivery applications - part 2.","authors":"Alireza Sadraei, Seyed Morteza Naghib, Navid Rabiee","doi":"10.1080/17425247.2025.2466768","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17425247.2025.2466768","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The incorporation of 4D printing alongside chemical stimuli-responsive hydrogels represents a significant advancement in the field of biomedical engineering, effectively overcoming the constraints associated with conventional static 3D-printed structures. Through the integration of time as the fourth dimension, 4D printing facilitates the development of dynamic and adaptable structures that can react to chemical alterations in their surroundings. This innovation presents considerable promise for sophisticated tissue engineering and targeted drug delivery applications.</p><p><strong>Areas covered: </strong>This review examines the function of chemical stimuli-responsive hydrogels within the context of 4D printing, highlighting their distinctive ability to undergo regulated transformations when exposed to particular chemical stimuli. An in-depth examination of contemporary research underscores the collaborative dynamics between these hydrogels and their surroundings, focusing specifically on their utilization in biomimetic scaffolds for tissue regeneration and the advancement of intelligent drug delivery systems.</p><p><strong>Expert opinion: </strong>The integration of 4D printing technology with chemically responsive hydrogels presents exceptional prospects for advancements in tissue engineering and targeted drug delivery, facilitating the development of personalized and adaptive medical solutions. Although the potential is promising, it is essential to address challenges such as material optimization, biocompatibility, and precise control over stimuli-responsive behavior to facilitate clinical translation and scalability.</p>","PeriodicalId":94004,"journal":{"name":"Expert opinion on drug delivery","volume":" ","pages":"491-510"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143426833","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}