One of the major challenges for polymer processing in the pharmaceutical field is to prepare controlled-release formulations with the objective of enhancing the drug’s longevity and effectiveness inside the human body. This type of pharmaceutical preparation is the result of a combination between polymer and drug. They can be obtained by generating coprecipitated particulate drug delivery system or by entrapping the drug particles in a porous polymeric media such as membrane, scaffold, and foam.

In recent years, much attention has been put into efforts to obtain pharmaceutical compounds featuring controlled-release properties using abundantly available, inexpensive, and nontoxic supercritical fluid as the green solvent. With respect to drug and polymer processing based on supercritical fluid technology, it is possible to implement a simple one-step process at moderate conditions of pressure and temperature, thereby producing microstructure without generating residue of the used solvent. At its lower critical temperature, supercritical fluid is extremely desirable for the preparation of thermosensitive drugs and other bioactive conjugates, as it does not expose them to high temperatures which may degrade them. Furthermore, the peculiarities of supercritical fluid—such as high solvent power, high diffusivity, and low surface tension—further increase the quality of the final drug conjugates with prolonged-delayed release function for good targeting efficacy and better patient compliance. Therefore, the application of supercritical fluid in biomedical field is an excellent alternative to conventional drug processing methods due to its fascinating physicochemical properties beyond the critical value.

This special issue aims to provide a platform for the publication of original research articles and select review articles concerning the potential application of supercritical fluid in the preparation of polymeric drug delivery system. The special issue encourages interdisciplinary submissions regarding both theoretical and experimental investigation covering the aspects of processes assisted by supercritical fluid such as polymer modification, micronization, polymer blending, phase inversion, microcellular foaming, polymerization, drying, and impregnation, with the aim of generating improved drug delivery system. Submissions related to solid-state characterization studies (drug release pattern, thermodynamic behavior, diffusivity mechanism, particle sizing, polymorph prediction, moisture sorption, etc.) and biological analysis of the drug delivery device prepared by supercritical fluid are also welcomed.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Application of supercritical fluid technology in the preparation of polymeric drug delivery system
• Chemical and engineering aspects (such as solubility and intermolecular interaction) of supercritical fluid with polymeric drug delivery system
• Recent advances of polymeric drug delivery system for controlled and extended drug release in nanomedicine
• Development of polymeric drug delivery system in bioavailability enhancement
• In vitro drug release testing strategies for polymeric drug delivery system