Dear Colleagues,

The paracellular pathway has gained great importance in recent decades thanks in part to the wider knowledge of its structure and control of its functions, both at the intestinal and at the blood–brain barrier (BBB) level. Furthermore, it is already considered an ideal route for oral absorption of medium-sized hydrophilic drugs, sometimes thanks to the use of absorption enhancers in different formulations. In this issue, our aim is to present recent research on the use of new enhancers for intestinal absorption by this route, including aspects of the mechanism of action, toxicity, whether the effects are reversible upon the intestinal barrier function, and lastly, use of enhancers in intestinal absorption in vitro models and extrapolation in in vivo models. Alternatively, the latest research on the opening of paracellular junctions at the BBB level will also be considered, since it constitutes an important route of access of several drugs to the central nervous system. Lastly, it will be considered the analysis of the injury provoked by disruptors at paracellular level.

Prof. Dr. Ana Polache
Dr. María José Cano-Cebrián
Guest Editors

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• paracellular route
• barrier function
• barrier disruptors
• absorption enhancement