New Technology for Prolonged Drug Release

Prolonged drug delivery systems play a key role in modern pharmaceutical dosage form design. Their advantages include extended therapeutic action, reduced dosing frequency that improves adherence, and more stable plasma drug levels that may lower side effects. These benefits collectively enhance therapeutic outcomes. Advances in formulation science introduce technologies to optimize both new and existing active ingredients. Controlled and sustained release can be achieved through strategies using natural or synthetic polymers that form gel matrices, functional coatings, or other modified release structures. Modern approaches also allow precise tailoring of release profiles to meet specific therapeutic needs. This Special Issue presents recent progress in technologies that support prolonged and controlled drug delivery. Topics include systems biology and peptide engineering to improve oral peptide absorption, as well as nanoparticle surface modification with biopolymers such as pectin or chitosan to enhance cellular uptake. Environmentally friendly synthesis methods-such as microwave and ultrasound-assisted preparation of lipid nanocarriers-are also featured. Clinical relevance is highlighted through in vivo studies on gastro-retentive dosage forms evaluated by gamma scintigraphy. Additional subjects include metal-organic frameworks for antimicrobial delivery, MUPS tableting strategies, nanofiber-based carriers for flavonoids, and advances in poly(lactic acid) microparticles.