Nature's Blueprint: Biodegradable Materials in Engineered Drug Delivery Systems

In the field of pharmaceutical sciences, drug is delivered either by conventional mode or controlled/ targeted mode to treat the disease. In controlled drug delivery, drug concentration is maintained at a constant level within the therapeutic range for an extended period of time. This approach offers several advantages over conventional drug delivery methods, and offers improved patient compliance, reduced side effects, and enhanced efficacy. In controlled drug delivery, other than the active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), excipients or additives play an important role. Polymeric materials have been used to control the rate of drug release from the dosage form and the selection of appropriate material that would deliver the drug at the predetermined rate is an important and critical. Biodegradable materials that can be broken down into simpler compounds by biological processes, such as enzymatic degradation or microbial action and excreted from the body have become very important.

The goal of this Research Topic is to provide a comprehensive overview of the new advances in the field of material science of biodegradable materials, as well as key concepts, principles, and methodologies utilized in the formulation of controlled drug delivery systems. It also aims to showcase the latest advances and breakthroughs in the design, development, and characterization of biodegradable drug delivery systems, including innovative materials, formulations, and manufacturing techniques. This Topic addresses the challenges and limitations of existing controlled drug delivery technologies and biodegradable materials, and explores strategies for overcoming these obstacles by identifying emerging trends and future directions in the field, such as the incorporation of nanotechnology, personalized medicine approaches, and the use of biomimetic principles to enhance drug delivery efficacy and specificity.

Researchers, academics, students, and industry professionals interested in expanding the field of controlled drug delivery using biodegradable materials - ultimately leading to better patient outcomes and healthcare innovation - are invited to submit their contributions.
We invite contributions on, but not limited to, the following:
• Application of biodegrable polymers in controlled release formulation
• Biodegradable polymers used in pharmaceutical sciences
• Biodegradable polymers used in targeted drug delivery for cancer therapy
• Natural and modified polymers used in controlled drug delivery
• Polymers used in 3-D printing
• Coating material used in targeted drug delivery
• Materials used in bioengineering for the treatment of diseases

Keywords: Polymer, Drug delivery, Pharmaceutical Excipients, Pharmaceutical Materials, Bioengineering, biodegradable materials

Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.