Hybrid Formulations for Advanced Drug Delivery: Harnessing the Synergistic Properties of Biomaterials to Enhance the Therapeutic Efficacy of Active Compounds

The design of efficient drug delivery systems has progressively evolved from simple carriers to multifunctional platforms characterized by controlled release of entrapped molecules, selective targeting, and stimuli-responsiveness. In this context, the development of hybrid and blend-based formulations, obtained by combining two or more materials with complementary physicochemical or biological features, represents a promising and rapidly expanding research frontier.The rationale behind this approach lies in the opportunity to synergistically integrate the distinctive advantages of individual components—for example, the mechanical stability of inorganic carriers, the biocompatibility of several polymers, and the responsiveness of phospholipids—into a single formulation. This strategy allows modulation of critical properties, including degradation rate, drug encapsulation efficiency, release kinetics, and targeting ability, thereby enhancing the overall therapeutic performance of delivered bioactive compounds.For these reasons, blend formulations have demonstrated notable potential across a variety of therapeutic areas, ranging from oncology and regenerative medicine to vaccine delivery and antimicrobial therapy.The goal of this Research Topic is to provide a comprehensive and critical overview of the most recent advances, to highlight emerging trends and technologies, and to identify knowledge gaps and future challenges that must be addressed to fully exploit the potential of hybrid and blend-based drug delivery systems.We aim to gather cutting-edge research and comprehensive reviews addressing the design, characterization, and applications of hybrid systems. Contributions are expected to emphasize how the association of various materials promotes the development of advanced formulations for drug delivery, characterized by improved performance compared to single-component systems.Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: • Design and engineering of hybrid or blend-based carriers (e.g., polymer–lipid, inorganic–organic, polymer–protein systems). • Advanced physicochemical and structural characterization, including stability and degradation behavior.• In vitro and in vivo evaluation of release kinetics, targeting, and therapeutic efficacy.• Stimuli-responsive and site-specific delivery strategies.• Applications in oncology, regenerative medicine, vaccination, and antimicrobial therapy. Topic editors: Donato Cosco, Anindya Bose, Viney Chawla, Velichka Andonova Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/74831/hybrid-formulations-for-advanced-drug-delivery-harnessing-the-synergistic-properties-of-biomaterials-to-enhance-the-therapeutic-efficacy-of-active-compounds