Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (560 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Drugs intended for human or veterinary use, presented in their finished dosage form. Included here are materials used in the preparation and/or formulation of the finished dosage form.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Drug; Pharmaceuticals; Pharmaceutical Preparation; Preparation, Pharmaceutical; Drugs; Pharmaceutical; Pharmaceutical Product; Product, Pharmaceutical.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Chemicals and Drugs Category
- Narrower topics
- Bulk Drugs; Controlled Substances; Cosmeceuticals; Dosage Forms; Drug Combinations; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Drugs, Essential; Drugs, Generic; Drugs, Investigational; Illicit Drugs; Materia Medica; Medical Marijuana; Nonprescription Drugs; Nostrums
- See also
- Pharmacology; Plants, Medicinal; Receptors, Drug
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 1,045,688 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Pharmaceutical Preparations” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 244,276 of them (23.4%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2010-2019 with 321,201 records.
Reviews account for 100,043 records (9.6%) and meta-analyses for 6,046. Randomized controlled trials number 64,247 (6.1%) as a share of all records on the topic.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 274,535 |
| 2000-2009 | 205,676 |
| 2010-2019 | 321,201 |
| 2020 onward | 244,276 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 100,043 | 9.6% |
| Meta-analyses | 6,046 | 0.6% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 64,247 | 6.1% |
Method: PubMed query "Pharmaceutical Preparations"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in drugs and chemicals
Studies of a chemical or drug can answer very different questions: what it is and how it behaves in cells and animals, how the body handles it, and whether it changes outcomes in people. Laboratory and animal findings often do not carry over to patients, and observational studies of exposures are confounded by who uses a substance and why. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to use, avoid, start or stop any substance or medicine; talk to a qualified clinician or pharmacist about your own situation. Check the dose, the species, the comparison group and whether a patient-relevant outcome was measured.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of a Lipophilic Vorinostat Prodrug | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42801759 · DOI · PMC13616466 |
| Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) for the Delivery of Small-Molecule Therapeutics | 2026 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42677551 · DOI · PMC13523698 |
| Do Amelogenin Peptide-Based Nanohydrogels Prevent Artificially Induced White Spot Lesions? | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 0 | cc by PMID 42904531 · DOI · PMC13685533 |
Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of a Lipophilic Vorinostat Prodrug [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Vorinostat, a hydroxamic acid-based histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor approved for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, exhibits broad-spectrum anticancer activity.
- Closing excerpt
- Collectively, these findings suggest lipid conjugation as a promising prodrug strategy to modulate the biological and physicochemical properties of vorinostat.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (196 words)
Vorinostat, a hydroxamic acid-based histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor approved for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, exhibits broad-spectrum anticancer activity. However, its clinical application is limited by poor permeability and rapid metabolism, which result in a short half-life and consequently poor therapeutic efficacy. To address these constraints, we synthesized a series of lipid-vorinostat conjugates (3a-d) through acylation of vorinostat with short-chain fatty acid chloride derivatives (2a-d). The chemical structures and purity of the conjugates (3a-d) were confirmed using NMR, HRMS, and HPLC analyses. Among these derivatives, compound 3d (3,5,5-Trimethylhexanoyl-Vorinostat) demonstrated improved cytotoxicity against A549 and 4T1 carcinoma cells. Mechanistic insight revealed that the compound 3d induced higher levels of caspase-3/7 activation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) loss compared with vorinostat, suggesting enhanced apoptosis. The cell scratch assay demonstrated that 3d markedly inhibited cell migration as compared with vorinostat. Furthermore, in silico ADMET profiling predicted enhanced membrane permeability of the compound 3d as compared to vorinostat. The in vitro plasma stability revealed time-dependent hydrolysis of compound 3d to release active vorinostat, supporting its prodrug behavior. Collectively, these findings suggest lipid conjugation as a promising prodrug strategy to modulate the biological and physicochemical properties of vorinostat.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42801759 · DOI · PMC13616466
Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) for the Delivery of Small-Molecule Therapeutics [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- As cutting-edge porous materials, the properties of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are governed by their metal nodes and organic linkers, as well as the assembly mode of these subunits.
- Closing excerpt
- In particular, this perspective describes how the corresponding drug-loading strategies should be selected based on the inherent physicochemical properties of the small-molecule drugs and the specific biomedical application, in order to facilitate clinical translation.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (157 words)
As cutting-edge porous materials, the properties of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are governed by their metal nodes and organic linkers, as well as the assembly mode of these subunits. This allows the loading capacity of MOFs for small-molecule drugs to be readily tailored by rationally adjusting their structures and physicochemical properties. Furthermore, the introduction of additional functional groups into MOFs can enable the stimuli-responsive release of small-molecule drugs, thus rendering MOFs promising candidates for small-molecule drug delivery. With this perspective, we summarize the advances in the construction of MOF-based small-molecule drug delivery carriers and analyze the advantages and limitations of the various loading strategies for small-molecule drugs. We also introduce drug release mechanisms and their application for the targeted treatment of various human diseases. In particular, this perspective describes how the corresponding drug-loading strategies should be selected based on the inherent physicochemical properties of the small-molecule drugs and the specific biomedical application, in order to facilitate clinical translation.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42677551 · DOI · PMC13523698
Do Amelogenin Peptide-Based Nanohydrogels Prevent Artificially Induced White Spot Lesions? [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- PurposeAs one of the most undesirable side effects of fixed orthodontic treatment, the occurrence of white spot lesions should be prevented.
- Closing excerpt
- ConclusionThis study concludes that the amelogenin peptide combined with hydroxyapatite nanoparticles within chitosan hydrogels provides a promising preventive strategy.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (207 words)
PurposeAs one of the most undesirable side effects of fixed orthodontic treatment, the occurrence of white spot lesions should be prevented. In the present study, amelogenin peptide combined with hydroxyapatite nanoparticles within chitosan hydrogels was formulated to prevent enamel demineralization.Methods and materialsThree groups were evaluated for the evaluation of preventive effects. The first group received no treatment and was considered a control group, while the other groups were the experimental groups with the intervention. The first experimental group was treated with chitosan-based hydrogel including the peptide, while the other group was treated with the application of equal amounts of chitosan-based hydrogels loaded with either peptide or hydroxyapatite. pH cycling was carried out for two weeks. The preventive potential was evaluated through the estimation of enamel microhardness, fluorescence, and X-ray diffraction. The surface characteristics of sound and treated enamel were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy using different magnifications, and the chemical compositions were analyzed by an energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopic analyzer.ResultsThe results revealed the preventive potential of amelogenin peptide combined with hydroxyapatite through the preservation and improvement of appearance, and mechanical and chemical characteristics of the enamel surface throughout pH cycling.ConclusionThis study concludes that the amelogenin peptide combined with hydroxyapatite nanoparticles within chitosan hydrogels provides a promising preventive strategy.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42904531 · DOI · PMC13685533
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article All-cause mortality risk in long-acting injectable versus oral antipsychotics in schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis [4]
- Research article Harms with placebo in trials of biological therapies and small molecules as maintenance therapy in inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis [5]
- Research article Harms with placebo in trials of biological therapies and small molecules as induction therapy in inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis [6]
- Research article Azvudine versus Paxlovid in COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis [7]
- Research article Trifluridine-tipiracil plus bevacizumab versus trifluridine-tipiracil monotherapy for chemorefractory metastatic colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis [8]
- Research article Piperacillin-tazobactam vs. carbapenems for treating hospitalized patients with ESBL-producing Enterobacterales bloodstream infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis [9]
References
- Thakur N, Bhardwaj N, Yadav SK, Saneja A. Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of a Lipophilic Vorinostat Prodrug. . 2026. PMID 42801759 · DOI · PMC13616466
- Tong PH, Hu XL, Yan KC, Yuan XS, James TD, Wang HY, et al.. Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) for the Delivery of Small-Molecule Therapeutics. . 2026. PMID 42677551 · DOI · PMC13523698
- Shakir M, Mohammed-Salih HS, Hussein FH, Al-Obaidi JR. Do Amelogenin Peptide-Based Nanohydrogels Prevent Artificially Induced White Spot Lesions?. . 2026. PMID 42904531 · DOI · PMC13685533
- Aymerich C, Salazar de Pablo G, Pacho M, Pérez-Rodríguez V, Bilbao A, Andrés L, et al.. All-cause mortality risk in long-acting injectable versus oral antipsychotics in schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Mol Psychiatry. 2025. PMID 39174648 · DOI · PMC11649555
- Gros B, Blackwell J, Segal J, Black CJ, Ford AC, Din S. Harms with placebo in trials of biological therapies and small molecules as maintenance therapy in inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2024. PMID 39307146 · DOI
- Din S, Segal J, Blackwell J, Gros B, Black CJ, Ford AC. Harms with placebo in trials of biological therapies and small molecules as induction therapy in inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2024. PMID 39307145 · DOI
- Amani B, Amani B. Azvudine versus Paxlovid in COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Rev Med Virol. 2024. PMID 38849982 · DOI
- Aquino de Moraes FC, Dantas Leite Pessôa FD, Duarte de Castro Ribeiro CH, Rodrigues Fernandes M, Rodríguez Burbano RM, Carneiro Dos Santos NP. Trifluridine-tipiracil plus bevacizumab versus trifluridine-tipiracil monotherapy for chemorefractory metastatic colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Cancer. 2024. PMID 38825703 · DOI · PMC11145814
- Gatti M, Cojutti PG, Pea F. Piperacillin-tazobactam vs. carbapenems for treating hospitalized patients with ESBL-producing Enterobacterales bloodstream infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Glob Antimicrob Resist. 2024. PMID 39173739 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-31.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.