About this Research Topic

Background

Natural products refer to single-component or multi-component active agents that come from animals, plants, and other organisms and have a definite therapeutic effect. Natural products have the advantages of novel structure, high biological activity, favorable safety profile, and multiple pharmacological activities. They are an important source of new drugs and show great potential in the field of current drug research and development. However, many natural products are difficulty meeting the pharmacologic requirements due to low water solubility, poor stability, and poor oral bioavailability. Therefore, how to find natural products with therapeutic potential and use delivery technology to solve the problem of medicinal properties is very important.

Nano-drug delivery systems (NDDS) are composed of polymer materials and drug molecules assembled into nanoparticles with nanometer scale effects, which have multiple advantages over conventional delivery systems, such as enhanced drug solubility, targeted delivery to desired sites, sustained and controlled drug release, and improved transport efficiency. In this respect, NDDS have emerged as promising vehicles for improving the therapeutic index and reducing the toxicity of active pharmaceutical ingredients in recent years.

It is an advantageous strategy to use nano-drug delivery systems (NDDS) to deliver natural products. NDDS can not only significantly improve the solubility and stability of natural products but also improve the drug molecules across the membrane transport capacity, and improve the in vivo pharmacokinetic characteristics and tissue targeting, to improve the safety and efficacy of clinical treatment and compliance. With the increasing research and growing clinical applications of NDDS-based nanomedicine (such as AmBisome®, Doxil®, and Abraxane®), NDDS have gained increasing attention in the field of drug research and development. However, due to the inherent physical and chemical properties of natural products, many natural products with good application prospects are difficult to be effectively encapsulated into nanocarriers due to poor lipid solubility and it is difficult to improve the biological characteristics of agents under the scale effect and surface properties of nanocarriers. Therefore, how to choose polymer materials to construct NDDS to improve the encapsulation efficiency and drug loading capacity is a key step to breaking through the technical barriers of nano-drug research and development.

This Research Topic will include cutting-edge scientific research in the discovery, characterization, and nano delivery of natural products (including single-component or multi-component medicine) with pharmacological activities such as anti-tumor, immune, and lipid metabolism regulation, diabetes care, anti-inflammation, and so on. It is preferable to combine natural products with nano delivery and the submitted manuscript should include the structure and composition of the active ingredients of natural products, in vitro characterization of NDDS, in vitro pharmacological activity evaluation, in vivo pharmacokinetics (optimal), in vivo pharmacodynamics and safety, and preliminary pharmacodynamic mechanism study (optimal). Multi-component natural products with definite active ingredients and distinct regulatory effects on body immunity and lipid metabolism are also considered for publication. Emerging techniques for evaluating the pharmacological activity and safety of natural products, such as organoids, are welcome. Reviews and research papers will be considered for publication.

• Discovery of natural products (single-component) with pharmacological activities such as anti-tumor, immune and lipid metabolism regulation, diabetes care, anti-inflammation, and so on.
• For multi-component natural products, the composition and structure of the active ingredients and the pharmacological mechanism should be clear.
• One or more natural products are encapsulated by NDDS and evaluated in vitro and in vivo for targeted therapy of specific diseases.
• Emerging techniques for evaluating the pharmacological activity and safety of natural products, such as organoids.

Frontiers in Experimental Pharmacology and Drug Discovery does not accept publication studies carried out with crude extracts or mixtures. Only the use of highly purified, chemically characterized compounds is acceptable.

Whenever a complex mixture is used, data with the single components of the mixture, in precisely defined dose/concentration, should be provided (and/or previously published). This applies also to in silico studies on supposed mechanisms underlying the supposed actions of crude extracts and/or mixtures.

Keywords: Natural products, Drug discovery, Nano delivery

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.

Frequently asked questions

• What is a Research Topic?

  Frontiers' Research Topics are collaborative hubs built around an emerging theme.Defined, managed, and led by renowned researchers, they bring communities together around a shared area of interest to stimulate collaboration and innovation.

  Unlike section journals, which serve established specialty communities, Research Topics are pioneer hubs, responding to the evolving scientific landscape and catering to new communities.

• Why does Frontiers publish Research Topics? 

  The goal of Frontiers' publishing program is to empower research communities to actively steer the course of scientific publishing. Our program was implemented as a three-part unit with fixed field journals, flexible specialty sections, and dynamically emerging Research Topics, connecting communities of different sizes and maturity.

  Research Topics originate from the scientific community. Many of our Research Topics are suggested by existing editorial board members who have identified critical challenges or areas of interest in their field.

• Why are Research Topics important for journals?

  As an editor, Research Topics will help you build your journal, as well as your community, around emerging, cutting-edge research. As research trailblazers, Research Topics attract high-quality submissions from leading experts all over the world.

  A thriving Research Topic can potentially evolve into a new specialty section if there is sustained interest and a growing community around it.

• How do we ensure the quality of articles within Research Topics?

  Each Research Topic must be approved by the specialty chief editor, and it falls under the editorial oversight of our editorial boards, supported by our in-house research integrity team. The same standards and rigorous peer review processes apply to articles published as part of a Research Topic as for any other article we publish.

  In 2023, 80% of the Research Topics we published were edited or co-edited by our editorial board members, who are already familiar with their journal's scope, ethos, and publishing model. All other topics are guest edited by leaders in their field, each vetted and formally approved by the specialty chief editor.

• What are the benefits of publishing my article in a Research Topic?

  Publishing your article within a Research Topic with other related articles increases its discoverability and visibility, which can lead to more views, downloads, and citations. Research Topics grow dynamically as more published articles are added, causing frequent revisiting, and further visibility.

  As Research Topics are multidisciplinary, they are cross-listed in several fields and section journals – increasing your reach even more and giving you the chance to expand your network and collaborate with researchers in different fields, all focusing on expanding knowledge around the same important topic.

  Our larger Research Topics are also converted into ebooks and receive social media promotion from our digital marketing team.

   
• What types of articles can be published in a Research Topic?

  Frontiers offers multiple article types, but it will depend on the field and section journals in which the Research Topic will be featured. The available article types for a Research Topic will appear in the drop-down menu during the submission process.

  Check available article types here 

• Can I suggest a new Research Topic? 

  Yes, we would love to hear your ideas for a topic. Most of our Research Topics are community-led and suggested by researchers in the field. Our in-house editorial team will contact you to talk about your idea and whether you’d like to edit the topic. If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. 

  Suggest your topic here 

• Who leads a Research Topic? 

  A team of guest editors (called topic editors) lead their Research Topic. This editorial team oversees the entire process, from the initial topic proposal to calls for participation, the peer review, and final publications.

  The team may also include topic coordinators, who help the topic editors send calls for participation, liaise with topic editors on abstracts, and support contributing authors. In some cases, they can also be assigned as reviewers.

• What is the role of a topic editor?

  As a topic editor (TE), you will take the lead on all editorial decisions for the Research Topic, starting with defining its scope. This allows you to curate research around a topic that interests you, bring together different perspectives from leading researchers across different fields and shape the future of your field. 

   

  You will choose your team of co-editors, curate a list of potential authors, send calls for participation and oversee the peer review process, accepting or recommending rejection for each manuscript submitted.

• What support will I receive when editing a new Research Topic? 

  As a topic editor, you're supported at every stage by our in-house team. You will be assigned a single point of contact to help you on both editorial and technical matters. Your topic is managed through our user-friendly online platform, and the peer review process is supported by our industry-first AI review assistant (AIRA).

• As a junior researcher, can I be involved in editing a Research Topic? 

  If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. This provides you with valuable editorial experience, improving your ability to critically evaluate research articles and enhancing your understanding of the quality standards and requirements for scientific publishing, as well as the opportunity to discover new research in your field, and expand your professional network.

• Can I get a certificate for editing a Research Topic?

  Yes, certificates can be issued on request. We are happy to provide a certificate for your contribution to editing a successful Research Topic.

• Who will I collaborate with?

  Research Topics thrive on collaboration and their multi-disciplinary approach around emerging, cutting-edge themes, attract leading researchers from all over the world.

• How long does it take to publish a Research Topic?

  As a topic editor, you can set the timeline for your Research Topic, and we will work with you at your pace. Typically, Research Topics are online and open for submissions within a few weeks and remain open for participation for 6 – 12 months. Individual articles within a Research Topic are published as soon as they are ready.

  Find out more about our Research Topics

• What fee support is available to authors publishing in a Research Topic?

  Our fee support program ensures that all articles that pass peer review, including those published in Research Topics, can benefit from open access – regardless of the author's field or funding situation.

  Authors and institutions with insufficient funding can apply for a discount on their publishing fees. A fee support application form is available on our website.

• Will there be a printed version of my Research Topic?

  In line with our mission to promote healthy lives on a healthy planet, we do not provide printed materials. All our articles and ebooks are available under a CC-BY license, so you can share and print copies.