An update on recent Pharmaceutical Research articles from the editor-in-chief
By Tonglei Li, Ph.D., Pharmaceutical Research Editor-in-Chief
Pharmaceutical Research began 2021 with a refreshing look. The accompanying figure is the cover of the January Issue; the cover template has been redesigned with the journal name all in lower case in a relaxed, simple font. The two vertical connections between the words do provide a bit of vibrancy epitomizing the mission of the journal. The featured image on the cover is adapted from a research article published in the issue, Antibiofilm Effects of Macrolide Loaded Microneedle Patches: Prospects in Healing Infected Wounds (DOI: 10.1007/s11095-021-02995-0) by Prof. Zeeshan Ahmad and his collaborators from De Montfort University. In this article, the authors discuss the making of drug-laden polymeric microneedles and the evaluation of the drug delivery device in an animal model.
A new series of articles addressing the current grand challenges facing the drug development and pharmaceutical research field also originated in the January issue. In his writing of Ridding the Cold Chain for Biologics (DOI: 10.1007/s11095-021-03008-w), Prof. Bruce Yu from the University of Maryland discusses the role of cold chain in distributing biological products and the need to mitigate or even circumvent the requirement of low-temperature storage. Together with future Grand Challenges articles, the series hopes to stimulate new ideas and unconventional solutions in drug development, which traditionally lags behind other research and development fields, mostly due to the conservative nature and extremely long development cycle of drug products. Every seasoned researcher from the AAPS community has experienced various challenges in conducting his or her research. Please consider submitting your writing in addressing these challenges to Pharmaceutical Research.
Among the quality publications in the January and February issues, there are a few worth highlighting. In Pharmacokinetics Versus In Vitro Antiproliferative Potency to Design a Novel Hyperglycosylated hIFN-α2 Biobetter (DOI: 10.1007/s11095-020-02978-7), the authors demonstrate improved PK of three muteins of human interferon alpha 2 through protein engineering. In Increasing Intracellular Levels of Iron with Ferric Ammonium Citrate Leads to Reduced P-glycoprotein Expression in Human Immortalised Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells (DOI: 10.1007/s11095-021-03006-y), the authors allude potential impact of iron uptake on brain-to-blood clearance of β-amyloid. In The Interface Motion and Hydrodynamic Shear of the Liquid Slosh in Syringes (DOI: 10.1007/s11095-021-02992-3), which was chosen for the February cover image, the authors investigate the hydrodynamics through the injection process from an autoinjector and discuss the possible impact on protein stability. In Generation of Ophthalmic Nanosuspension of Prednisolone Acetate Using a Novel Technology (DOI: 10.1007/s11095-021-02985-2), the authors showcase using spray drying in preparation of sub-micron crystalline particles of the drug firstly induced by mannitol and subsequently stabilized by two polymeric excipients.
Last but not the least, a list of 582 names is published in the February issue. These are the 2020 reviewers who helped the journal in reviewing a vast number of submissions. Without their dedications and endless hours, it would be impossible to have Pharmaceutical Research function! Our community is indebted to your service. Thank you!