Quality-by-Design Optimization of Advanced Lipid-Based Nanocarriers (SLNs, NLCs, and Ethosomes) for Non-Invasive Drug Delivery and Bioavailability Enhancement

Overcoming the physiological barriers to drug delivery remains a central challenge in translational pharmacology. Poor aqueous solubility, low permeability, and rapid first-pass metabolism limit the therapeutic index of many small-molecule drugs and phytomedicines with otherwise strong pharmacological activity. To move these molecules from the bench toward therapeutic viability, formulation science must draw on advanced lipid-based and surfactant-based nanocarriers, including Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs), Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (NLCs), ethosomes, and nanospanlastics.This Research Topic focuses on the systematic engineering, statistical optimization, and in vivo translational evaluation of advanced lipid nanocarriers. Rather than relying on empirical trial-and-error, this collection emphasizes the use of Quality-by-Design (QbD) and Design-of-Experiments (DoE) methodologies. It aims to connect the engineering of these formulations with the assessment of their in vivo pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and pharmacodynamic outcomes, with a specific focus on non-invasive routes of administration.We welcome Original Research, Reviews, Mini Reviews, and Perspective articles covering, but not limited to, the following themes:• Novel Carrier Architectures: design, optimization, and characterization of SLNs, NLCs, ethosomes, transferosomes, and nanospanlastics for therapeutic payloads.• Quality-by-Design (QbD): application of statistical software, DoE, and Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to the optimization of nanoparticulate delivery systems.• Non-Invasive Routes of Administration: targeted and controlled-release formulations for transdermal, intranasal, oral, and ocular delivery.• Translational Pharmacokinetics: preclinical in vitro release kinetics and in vivo pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) assessments demonstrating enhanced solubility, permeability, and systemic bioavailability.• CNS and Organ Targeting: nanoparticle-mediated delivery strategies designed to bypass biological barriers, such as the blood-brain barrier via intranasal delivery.• Phytomedicine Delivery: nano-formulation and bioavailability enhancement of poorly soluble plant-derived bioactives and natural products. Scope Exclusions: submissions focused strictly on lipid biophysics without pharmacological or in vivo validation, purely in silico docking studies lacking wet-lab formulation data, or formulations built on macromolecular gene/RNA delivery systems fall outside the scope of this translational pharmacology collection. Topic editors: Ananda Kumar Chettupalli, Prof. Sarad Pawar Naik Bukke, Mohammed Tahir Ansari Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/84818/quality-by-design-optimization-of-advanced-lipid-based-nanocarriers-slns-nlcs-and-ethosomes-for-non-invasive-drug-delivery-and-bioavailability-enhancement