Ibuprofen
Ibuprofen is a propionic acid-derived non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) widely used for its analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Ibuprofen is a propionic acid-derived non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) widely used for its analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory properties. It exerts its pharmacological effects primarily through reversible inhibition of cyclooxygenase enzymes (COX-1 and COX-2), thereby reducing the biosynthesis of prostaglandins and thromboxanes involved in pain signaling, fever induction, and inflammatory cascades. Available in numerous formulations — including immediate-release tablets, lysinate salts, and sustained-release compositions — ibuprofen occupies a central role in both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) pain and fever management, with non-prescription use typically capped at a maximum daily dose of 1,200 mg. Beyond its classical analgesic indication, ibuprofen has attracted sustained scientific interest for its potential utility in oncology, infectious disease, drug delivery, and environmental monitoring, positioning it as a molecularly versatile compound across multiple biomedical domains.
As a small-molecule NSAID, ibuprofen belongs to the same pharmacological class as indomethacin, naproxen, diclofenac, ketoprofen, and mefenamic acid — agents with which it is frequently compared in pharmacokinetic, ecological, and clinical studies. Its broad tissue distribution and relatively short half-life make formulation optimization an active area of pharmaceutical research, while its widespread consumption and incomplete environmental metabolism have established it as a prototypical pharmaceutical micropollutant of global concern.
Where the papers sit
13 papers from the last 6 months study ibuprofen directly · updated from PubMed 5 Oct 2026
Study type 1 clinical trial · 12 preclinical
Themes 3 themes · 1 new direction
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Controlled Drug Release
Formulation research is moving toward sustained, modified and externally triggered drug release. Ibuprofen tablets use biphasic designs and natural polymers, while dynamic gastrointestinal models seek to predict food-related changes in release and pharmacokinetics. Polydopamine–sodium alginate hydrogels add near-infrared control, and repurposed ibuprofen eye drops extend delivery research to bacterial keratitis. Release duration, food effects and tissue-specific exposure remain the recurring endpoints.
5 papers · 38.5%
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3D-Printed Drug Formulations
Drug production is shifting from conventional tableting toward FDM and semi-solid extrusion of tailored dosage forms. Amorphous solid dispersions are being evaluated for ibuprofen, with crystallinity, particle-size distribution and dissolution governing performance. Pediatric chewable formats add taste-masking and formulation flexibility, while milk-based matrices broaden the target population. Reproducible printability, physical stability and reliable drug release remain open formulation challenges.
3 papers · 23.1%
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Others — Green Pharmaceutical Technologies
Greener chemistry links pharmaceutical analysis, materials synthesis and topical delivery in this group. The work uses plant extracts, electrochemical sensing and HPTLC to reduce environmental or analytical burdens. Ionic liquids, microfluidic emulsions and ethyl oleate address skin delivery, while other studies target water contaminants or photocatalysis. No single biological or clinical question unifies the cluster.
5 papers · 38.5%
Ibuprofen is repurposed as an antimicrobial adjunct for infectious keratitis
The Staphylococcus aureus-induced keratitis rat model studied by the levofloxacin–ibuprofen eye-drop combination 42031955Apr moves ibuprofen beyond the set’s usual roles as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory agent, or formulation component by testing it for potential antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity in an ocular infection. Combined levofloxacin and ibuprofen treatment produced the lowest expression of inflammatory mediators and metalloproteinases among the treatment groups, indicating that ibuprofen may contribute to infection-directed therapy rather than merely provide symptomatic anti-inflammatory action.
Papers
The 13 papers from the last 6 months that study ibuprofen directly, newest first, by theme and by study type. Study types come from PubMed publication types and MeSH headings.
By theme
Controlled Drug Release (5)
- Polydopamine/sodium alginate hydrogels with photothermal effects: a drug carrier for NIR-controlled drug release. Journal of materials chemistry. B · 29 Jul 2026 PMID 42525452
- Development of sustained-release oral tablets using xanthan and tragacanth gums as release modifiers. International journal of pharmaceutics · 23 Jul 2026 PMID 42492645
- Development of a Biphasic Modified-Release Ibuprofen Tablet Formulation: Single-Dose and Multiple-Dose Pharmacokinetics and Food-Effect Studies. Clinical and translational science · 30 Jun 2026 PMID 42374602
- Mechanistic prediction of food-induced variability in drug release and pharmacokinetics using a dynamic gastrointestinal system and convolution-based modeling. International journal of pharmaceutics · 19 Jun 2026 PMID 42320737
- An eye drop combination for treating Staphylococcus aureus-induced keratitis in rats: repurposing ibuprofen. Scientific reports · 24 Apr 2026 PMID 42031955
3D-Printed Drug Formulations (3)
- Novel Hybrid Polymer-Lipid-Based Formulations for Enhanced Dissolution Rates of Poorly Water-Soluble Drugs: A Quality by Design (QbD) Approach via Hot Melt Extrusion. AAPS PharmSciTech · 5 Sept 2026 PMID 42697982
- Evaluating FDM 3D printing and conventional tableting for producing ibuprofen amorphous solid dispersions. International journal of pharmaceutics · 30 May 2026 PMID 42217813
- Semi-solid extrusion 3D printing of milk formula-based paediatric chewable dosage forms. Journal of pharmaceutical sciences · 24 Apr 2026 PMID 42031026
Others — Green Pharmaceutical Technologies (5)
- Microfluidic processing of coarse emulsions: a scalable approach for nanoemulsion preparation in dermal drug delivery. International journal of pharmaceutics · 5 Sept 2026 PMID 42700904
- Microwave-Assisted Green Synthesis of Bi2O3Nanoparticles Using Artocarpus heterophyllus (Jack Fruit) Peel Extract for Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of Pharmaceutical Contaminants. Chemistry & biodiversity · 31 Aug 2026 PMID 42673106
- Design of active pharmaceutical ingredient-ionic liquids for enhanced delivery to skin. Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society · 27 Jun 2026 PMID 42364699
- A novel eco-friendly HPTLC approach for the simultaneous determination of erdosteine, ibuprofen and pseudoephedrine pharmaceutical combination. Scientific reports · 16 Jun 2026 PMID 42303778
- Graphene-Based Electrochemical Sensors for the Determination of Pharmaceutical- and Agricultural-Based Emerging Contaminants in Water. Analytical chemistry · 30 Apr 2026 PMID 42060697
By study type
Clinical trials (1)
- Development of a Biphasic Modified-Release Ibuprofen Tablet Formulation: Single-Dose and Multiple-Dose Pharmacokinetics and Food-Effect Studies. Clinical and translational science · 30 Jun 2026 PMID 42374602
Preclinical: animal, cell and lab studies (12)
- Microfluidic processing of coarse emulsions: a scalable approach for nanoemulsion preparation in dermal drug delivery. International journal of pharmaceutics · 5 Sept 2026 PMID 42700904
- Novel Hybrid Polymer-Lipid-Based Formulations for Enhanced Dissolution Rates of Poorly Water-Soluble Drugs: A Quality by Design (QbD) Approach via Hot Melt Extrusion. AAPS PharmSciTech · 5 Sept 2026 PMID 42697982
- Microwave-Assisted Green Synthesis of Bi2O3Nanoparticles Using Artocarpus heterophyllus (Jack Fruit) Peel Extract for Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of Pharmaceutical Contaminants. Chemistry & biodiversity · 31 Aug 2026 PMID 42673106
- Polydopamine/sodium alginate hydrogels with photothermal effects: a drug carrier for NIR-controlled drug release. Journal of materials chemistry. B · 29 Jul 2026 PMID 42525452
- Development of sustained-release oral tablets using xanthan and tragacanth gums as release modifiers. International journal of pharmaceutics · 23 Jul 2026 PMID 42492645
- Design of active pharmaceutical ingredient-ionic liquids for enhanced delivery to skin. Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society · 27 Jun 2026 PMID 42364699
- Mechanistic prediction of food-induced variability in drug release and pharmacokinetics using a dynamic gastrointestinal system and convolution-based modeling. International journal of pharmaceutics · 19 Jun 2026 PMID 42320737
- A novel eco-friendly HPTLC approach for the simultaneous determination of erdosteine, ibuprofen and pseudoephedrine pharmaceutical combination. Scientific reports · 16 Jun 2026 PMID 42303778
- Evaluating FDM 3D printing and conventional tableting for producing ibuprofen amorphous solid dispersions. International journal of pharmaceutics · 30 May 2026 PMID 42217813
- Graphene-Based Electrochemical Sensors for the Determination of Pharmaceutical- and Agricultural-Based Emerging Contaminants in Water. Analytical chemistry · 30 Apr 2026 PMID 42060697
- An eye drop combination for treating Staphylococcus aureus-induced keratitis in rats: repurposing ibuprofen. Scientific reports · 24 Apr 2026 PMID 42031955
- Semi-solid extrusion 3D printing of milk formula-based paediatric chewable dosage forms. Journal of pharmaceutical sciences · 24 Apr 2026 PMID 42031026
Written from 13 PubMed abstracts, each one listed by PMID above. Published: 2026-06-15. Last written: 2026-09-07 by GPT. Drafted by language models from published abstracts; not medical advice.