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Review
. 2025 Mar;16(3):285-303.
doi: 10.1080/20415990.2024.2437978. Epub 2024 Dec 29.

Advanced drug delivery systems for the management of local conditions

Lucía Lopez-Vidal  1 , Kornelija Juskaite  1 , Inken K Ramöller  1 , Daniel A Real  2   3 , Peter E McKenna  1 , Josefina Priotti  4 , Ryan F Donnelly  1 , Alejandro J Paredes  1
Affiliations
Review

Advanced drug delivery systems for the management of local conditions

Lucía Lopez-Vidal et al. Ther Deliv. 2025 Mar.

Abstract

Localized disorders, even though originally confined to a specific body part, can progress into potentially life-threatening systemic disorders if treated inappropriately. Local treatment is often highly challenging due to poor penetration of therapeutic agents from their vehicles into the affected body site. Systemic treatment on the other hand often comes with unspecific side effects. The skin is the largest organ of the body, and conditions such as wounds and bacterial or fungal infections disrupt its natural barrier properties, important for the homeostasis of the human body. Advanced drug delivery systems for treating these conditions could greatly improve the treatment outcome and patient compliance. Other parts of the body that are of interest regarding localized treatment are, for example, the eyes along with mucosal tissues which are present in the vagina and lungs. Rather than focusing on specific diseases or parts of the body, this review provides an overview of the different drug delivery platforms that have been employed for enhanced local treatment. The following systems will be discussed: nanoparticle-based systems, such as nanocrystals, polymeric, lipidic, and inorganic nanoparticles, and nanogels; cyclodextrin inclusion complexes; and several devices like microarray patches, wound dressings, and films.

Keywords: Nanoparticles; cyclodextrins; films; microarray patches; microneedles; nanocrystals; nanogels; wound dressings.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
The summary of mechanical barriers that interfere with drug delivery. (a) Represents transdermal delivery physical barriers inspired by ref [3]. and created with BioRoender.com. (b) Displays the physical barriers for the topical delivery to the eye inspired by ref [4]. and adapted with BioRender.com. Panel (c) Reveals the biological barrier for vaginal delivery inspired by ref [5]. In the (d) Panel, the image reveals the main biological barriers for pulmonary delivery inspired by ref [6]. The images have been modified to meet the scope of this review.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Graphical summary of the various Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems discussed in the article. The image was obtained with BioRender.com.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Graphic summary of different cyclodextrins-based advanced drug delivery systems applied to local therapies. The image was obtained with BioRender.com.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Schematic representation of the four different microarray patch (MAP) delivery strategies for local conditions including (a) coated, (b) hollow, (c) dissolving/biodegradable and (d) hydrogel. The image was obtained with BioRender.com.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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