Editor’s Choice Articles

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) signifies a devastating impact on the quality of life of patients and their families. At a biomolecular level, AD is characterized by the deposition of extracellular plaques of β-amyloid (Aβ), affecting language, spatial navigation, recognition abilities and memory. Among the selected 30 articles about polyoxometalates (POMs) and AD published from 2011 to 2025, pure POMs, hybrid POMs and POM nanoparticles can be found. The majority of POMs are polyoxotungstates (62%), the Keggin-type SiW₁₁O₃₉ being the most studied in AD. The main effect described is the inhibition of Aβ aggregates. Other effects include reversing the neurotoxicity induced by Aβ aggregates, decreasing ROS production and neuroinflammation, restoring memory and sequestering Zn²⁺ and Cu²⁺, among others, features that are well known to be associated with the pathology of AD. POMs have also shown the ability to induce the disaggregation of Aβ fibrils, particularly after irradiation, and to inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity at an nM range. Putting it all together, this review highlights a predominant trend in the exploration of POMs to act directly at the level of the formation and/or disaggregation of Aβ aggregates in the treatment of AD. Full article

Oxidative stress and inflammation are deeply interconnected processes implicated in the onset and progression of numerous chronic diseases. Despite promising mechanistic insights, conventional antioxidant and anti-inflammatory therapies such as NSAIDs, corticosteroids, and dietary antioxidants have shown limited and inconsistent success in long-term clinical applications due to challenges with efficacy, safety, and bioavailability. This review explores the molecular interplay between redox imbalance and inflammatory signaling and highlights why conventional therapeutic translation has often been inconsistent. It further examines emerging strategies that aim to overcome these limitations, including mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants, Nrf2 activators, immunometabolic modulators, redox enzyme mimetics, and advanced delivery platforms such as nanoparticle-enabled delivery. Natural polyphenols, nutraceuticals, and regenerative approaches, including stem cell-derived exosomes, are also considered for their dual anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential. By integrating recent preclinical and clinical evidence, this review underscores the need for multimodal, personalized interventions that target the redox-inflammatory axis more precisely. These advances offer renewed promise for addressing complex diseases rooted in chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. Full article

Personalized cancer vaccines are a promising immunotherapy targeting patient-specific tumor neoantigens, yet their design and efficacy remain challenging. Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) provide powerful tools to enhance multiple stages of cancer vaccine development. This review systematically evaluates AI applications in personalized cancer vaccine research over the past five years, focusing on four key areas: neoantigen discovery, codon optimization, untranslated region (UTR) sequence generation, and mRNA vaccine design. We examine AI model architectures (e.g., neural networks), datasets (from omics to high-throughput assays), and outcomes in improving vaccine development. In neoantigen discovery, machine learning and deep learning models integrate peptide–MHC binding, antigen processing, and T cell receptor recognition to enhance immunogenic neoantigen identification. For sequence optimization, deep learning models for codon and UTR design improve protein expression and mRNA stability beyond traditional methods. AI-driven strategies also optimize mRNA vaccine constructs and formulations, including secondary structures and nanoparticle delivery systems. We discuss how these AI approaches converge to streamline effective personalized vaccine development, while addressing challenges such as data scarcity, tumor heterogeneity, and model interpretability. By leveraging AI innovations, the future of personalized cancer immunotherapy may see unprecedented improvements in both design efficiency and clinical effectiveness. Full article

The elderly population is growing worldwide. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly prescribed, but their adverse events can pose significant risks. Different NSAID molecules can exhibit varying risk profiles. This study aims to evaluate the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and renal safety profiles of ibuprofen, naproxen, acemetacin, diclofenac, celecoxib, and etoricoxib in elderly patients. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed and Cochrane Library. For the selection of articles, we used Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms “aged” sequentially and together with “ibuprofen”, “diclofenac”, “naproxen”, “acemetacin”, “celecoxib”, and “etoricoxib”. To assess the quality and interest of the articles, four independent reviewers screened titles and abstracts to identify potentially eligible studies. Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy (SORT) was used to rate the quality of individual studies and to establish recommendation strengths (RS). From 2086 articles identified, 39 studies met the inclusion criteria. Twenty studies analyzed cardiovascular safety, fourteen gastrointestinal safety, and four renal safety. When CV risk is the main concern celecoxib or naproxen are a good first choice (RS B). In high GI risk addition of PPI to naproxen or celecoxib use should be recommended (RS A). When renal function is on focus, celecoxib remains as first line of therapy (RS A). Diclofenac in the geriatric population should be avoided (RS B). Celecoxib is a good choice for elderly patients for whom it is difficult to direct pain treatment based on a single known risk factor (RS B). Full article

Metabolites are at the end of the gene–transcript–protein–metabolism cascade. As such, metabolomics is the omics approach that offers the most direct correlation with phenotype. This allows, where genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics fail to explain a trait, metabolomics to possibly provide an answer. Complex phenotypes, which are determined by the influence of multiple small-effect alleles, are an example of these situations. Consequently, the interest in metabolomics has increased exponentially in recent years. As a newer discipline, metabolomic bioinformatic analysis pipelines are not as standardized as in the other omics approaches. In this review, we synthesized the different steps that need to be carried out to obtain biological insight from annotated metabolite abundance raw data. These steps were grouped into three different modules: preprocessing, statistical analysis, and metabolic pathway enrichment. We included within each one of them the different state-of-the-art procedures and tools that can be used depending on the characteristics of the study, providing details about each method’s characteristics and the issues the reader might encounter. Finally, we introduce genome-scale metabolic modeling as a tool for obtaining pseudo-metabolomic data in situations where their acquisition is difficult, enabling the analysis of the resulting data with the modules of the described workflow. Full article

Arthritis, a global health burden comprising osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, demands advanced therapeutic approaches. In this context, flavonoids, a diverse group of naturally occurring compounds abundant in fruits, vegetables, and medicinal plants, have emerged as promising candidates for mitigating the inflammatory processes associated with arthritic conditions. This review aims, first, to provide a comprehensive exploration of the potential of flavonoids, focusing on specific compounds such as quercetin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), apigenin, luteolin, fisetin, silibinin, kaempferol, naringenin, and myricetin. The second section of this review delves into the anti-arthritic activities of these flavonoids, drawing insights from clinical trials and scientific studies. Each flavonoid is scrutinized individually to elucidate its mechanisms of action and therapeutic efficacy in the context of both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The third section of this review highlights the challenges associated with harnessing flavonoids for anti-inflammatory purposes. Bioavailability limitations pose a significant hurdle, prompting the exploration of innovative strategies such as the use of nanoparticles as delivery vehicles. In response to these challenges, the fourth section focuses on the emerging field of flavonoid-based nanoparticles. This includes detailed discussions on quercetin, EGCG, fisetin, and naringenin-based nanoparticles, highlighting formulation strategies and preclinical evidence supporting their potential in arthritis management. The targeted delivery to inflammatory sites and the exploration of synergistic combinations with other compounds are also discussed as promising avenues to enhance the therapeutic impact of flavonoids. This review consolidates current knowledge on flavonoids and their nanoformulations as potential therapeutic interventions for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. By addressing challenges and presenting future research directions, this review aims to contribute to the advancement of innovative and effective strategies for alleviating the global burden of arthritis. Full article