Deep Eutectic Systems as Enabling Platforms for Pharmaceutical Technology

Deep eutectic systems (DESs), including natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) and therapeutic deep eutectic systems (THEDES), have gained significant attention in pharmaceutical technology due to their versatility, tunability, and unique physicochemical properties. These systems display structural adaptability and, through rational design, may offer desirable properties such as enhanced solubilization capacity and low volatility. When formulated from bio-derived and pharmaceutically acceptable components, they become attractive alternatives to conventional solvents and excipients.In pharmaceutical sciences, DESs provide innovative solutions across the drug development pipeline, including active pharmaceutical ingredient solubilization, stabilization, formulation, and delivery. They have demonstrated the ability to improve drug permeability, control release profiles, and stabilize labile compounds, thereby addressing challenges associated with poorly soluble drugs. Additionally, DESs enable the development of novel dosage forms, such as eutectogels, hydrogels, nanoparticles, and liquid formulations. Beyond drug delivery, DESs are increasingly explored as sustainable media for extraction, biocatalysis, and pharmaceutical manufacturing, supporting the growing demand for green and environmentally responsible technologies.Despite the growing interest in deep eutectic systems and natural deep eutectic solvents in pharmaceutical technology, their translation into clinically and industrially relevant applications remains limited. Key challenges include insufficient understanding of structure–property–performance relationships, variability in composition and reproducibility, incomplete toxicological and biopharmaceutical profiles, and the lack of standardized regulatory frameworks. These gaps hinder their potential adoption as pharmaceutical excipients or formulation platforms from pharmaceutical industry.This Research Topic aims to gather interdisciplinary contributions that explore the design, characterization, and application of DES, NADES or THEDES as enabling platforms in pharmaceutical technology. Emphasis will be placed on fundamental understanding, formulation strategies, safety and regulatory considerations, and translational potential. By bridging chemistry, materials science, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical engineering, this collection seeks to highlight both current and future advances for the integration of DESs into industrially relevant technologies (pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and nutraceutical).We will accept the following article types: Original Research, Review, Mini Review, and Perspective. Topics of interest include but are not limited to the following:• DESs, NADESs or THEDESs for drug solubilization and stabilization• NADES- and DESs-based drug delivery systems (gels, hydrogels, eutectogels, and nanoparticles)• Biocompatibility, toxicity, and regulatory considerations of DESs in medical use• NADESs and THEDESs in wound healing, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory applications• DESs in biocatalysis and bioprocessing for pharmaceutical manufacturing• Sustainable and green pharmaceutical technologies using DESs• Computational and experimental design of DESs for biomedical applications• Clinical translation challenges and innovative perspectives Topic editors: Manuela Panić, Andromachi Tzani Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/78069/deep-eutectic-systems-as-enabling-platforms-for-pharmaceutical-technology