Search Results (5,018)

This study uses a bismuth ferrite (BiFeO₃) and MXene (Ti₃C₂Tx) to design a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor for the sensitivity enhancement at a 633 nm wavelength. Here, MXene serves as a biorecognition element (BRE) layer to ensure stable and reliable biomolecule adsorption. The MXene is a family of two-dimensional (2D) materials with metallic-like conductivity, a large surface area that can attach biomolecules, and improve biocompatibility. The addition of a conductive 2D MXene layer and a high-index BiFeO₃ dielectric layer greatly improves light–matter interaction and evanescent field penetration at the sensing interface. Strong plasmonic coupling is indicated by the reflectance analysis, which shows a distinct and consistent shift in the resonance angle as analyte RI increases. This study examined the sensitivity at optimized Ag and BiFeO₃ layer thickness. At an Ag of 39 nm and BiFeO₃ of 3 nm thickness, the maximal sensitivity of 340.68°/RIU with a remarkable figure of merit (FoM) of 47.38/RIU is obtained. The overall detection accuracy (DA) and FoM are significantly improved by the large sensitivity enhancement, despite a slight increase in full width at half maximum (FWHM). Furthermore, the penetration depth (PD) of 198.50 nm (at RI:1.330) and 199.52 nm (at RI:1.335) is attained with the proposed structure. Due to its high sensitivity, reusability, and reproducibility, the SPR biosensor has the potential to be used in biochemical, environmental, and medical detection. Full article

Printed biosensors have attracted increasing attention as platforms for rapid, low-cost, and portable diagnostics because they can be fabricated on flexible or rigid substrates using scalable printing techniques. Their performance is strongly influenced by both the printing process and the materials employed, since factors such as ink rheology, particle dispersion, interfacial behavior, and post-processing conditions directly affect device architecture, sensing performance, and manufacturing reliability. This review summarizes recent advances in printed biosensors from the combined perspectives of printing technologies and functional materials. Commonly employed printing techniques, including inkjet, screen, aerosol jet, and roll-to-roll gravure printing, are discussed with emphasis on their processing characteristics and material requirements. The review also examines key material platforms used in printed biosensors, including carbon-based nanomaterials, metal oxides, metal nanoparticles, conductive polymers, dielectric materials, and hybrid composites, highlighting their roles in electrical conductivity, catalytic activity, biomolecule immobilization, mechanical flexibility, and overall analytical performance. Finally, current challenges and emerging research directions are outlined with respect to ink stability, post-processing strategies, sensor reliability, manufacturability, and practical translation. Overall, this review emphasizes that the development of high-performance printed biosensors depends on the synergistic integration of rational material design with optimized printing strategies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Early detection through minimally invasive approaches is critical for timely patient stratification and optimal therapeutic decision-making in colorectal cancer (CRC). Liquid biopsy, based on the analysis of tumor-derived components in blood and other body fluids, has emerged as a promising strategy to overcome current limitations in CRC diagnosis and follow-up. This review evaluates the current landscape of liquid biopsy clinical trials in CRC, focusing on predictive biomarker detection, prognostic assessment, and disease monitoring. Methods: ClinicalTrials.gov was searched using the terms “colorectal cancer” and “liquid biopsy” yielding 153 registered trials. After manual screening, 44 trials were excluded for not using liquid biopsy for CRC management, leaving 109 trials for analysis. Of these, 25 were completed, and 13 had publicly available results related to liquid biopsy. Results: The included trials were conducted across 27 countries on four continents. Overall, 119 biomolecules assessments and 167 different endpoints were reported across 109 clinical trials. Because individual trials could evaluate multiple biomolecules and endpoints, counts exceed the total number of trials. Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) was evaluated in 92/109 trials (84%) and accounting for 77% of all biomolecule assessments. Circulatingtumor cells (CTCs) were analyzed in 9/109 trials (8%, representing 8% of all the biomolecules analyzed), and microRNAs (miRNAs) in 8/109 (7%, representing 7% of all the biomolecules analyzed). Treatment sensitivity was the most common endpoint (57/109, 52% of the clinical trials; representing 34% of all the 167 different endpoints analyzed), followed by disease progression (28/109, 26%; representing 17% of all the different endpoints analyzed) and diagnostic applications (21/109, 19%; representing 12% of all the different endpoints analyzed). Among the 25 completed studies, 10/25 (40%) were interventional and 15/25 (60%) observational, spanning 14 countries. The majority of completed trials (21/25, 84%) used cfDNA. Interventional studies were predominantly phase II (5/10), with fewer phase III trials (2/10), primarily evaluating treatment response, particularly in relation to EGFR inhibitors and RAS/BRAF mutation status. Four observational studies (4/15) investigated emerging biomarkers, including long noncoding RNAs and miRNAs. Conclusions: Current clinical trials highlight cfDNA as the dominant and most clinically advanced liquid biopsy biomarker in CRC, primarily used for treatment guidance and disease monitoring. In contrast, CTCs and RNA-based biomarkers remain underrepresented. The limited number of randomized late-phase trials, heterogeneity in study design, and technical challenges associated with emerging biomarkers underscore the need for standardized methodologies and robust validation before routine clinical implementation. Full article

Iron-based nanoparticles, particularly iron oxide nanostructures (IONPs), have emerged as versatile and clinically relevant platforms for drug delivery and theranostic applications. Among these, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), including magnetite (Fe₃O₄) and maghemite (γ-Fe₂O₃), are the most extensively investigated due to their biocompatibility, magnetic responsiveness, and established safety profiles. Their unique superparamagnetic behavior enables external magnetic-field-guided targeting, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast enhancement, and magnetically triggered hyperthermia, enabling simultaneous diagnosis and therapy. Surface functionalization with polymers, silica, lipids, peptides, and biomolecules further improves colloidal stability, circulation time, targeting specificity, and controlled drug release. Core–shell architectures and multifunctional hybrid systems have expanded the therapeutic scope of iron nanoparticles, integrating chemotherapy, gene delivery, photothermal therapy, and Fenton reaction–mediated catalytic therapy. Despite promising preclinical outcomes, challenges remain regarding long-term biosafety, oxidative stress induction, biodistribution, large-scale reproducibility, and regulatory translation. This review summarizes the physicochemical properties, synthesis strategies, surface-engineering approaches, drug-loading mechanisms, and biomedical applications of iron-based nanoparticles, highlighting recent advances in multifunctional and peptide-functionalized systems. Critical considerations for clinical translation and future perspectives in precision nanomedicine are also discussed. Full article

Nanophotonics, an interdisciplinary field merging nanotechnology and photonics, has enabled transformative advancements across diverse sectors, including green energy, biomedicine, and optical computing. This review comprehensively examines recent progress in nanophotonic principles and applications, highlighting key innovations in material design, device engineering, and system integration. In renewable energy, nanophotonics allows the use of light-trapping nanostructures and spectral control in perovskite solar cells, concentrating solar power systems, and thermophotovoltaics. This has significantly enhanced solar conversion efficiencies, approaching theoretical limits. In biosensing, nanophotonic platforms achieve unprecedented sensitivity in detecting biomolecules, pathogens, and pollutants, enabling real-time diagnostics and environmental monitoring. Medical applications leverage tailored light–matter interactions for precision photothermal therapy, image-guided surgery, and early disease detection. Furthermore, nanophotonics underpins next-generation optical neural networks and neuromorphic computing, offering ultrafast, energy-efficient alternatives to von Neumann architectures. Despite rapid growth, challenges in scalability, fabrication costs, and material stability persist. Future advancements will rely on novel materials, AI-driven design optimization, and multidisciplinary approaches to enable scalable, low-cost deployment. This review summarizes recent progress and highlights future trends, including novel material systems, multidisciplinary approaches, and enhanced computational capabilities, paving the way for transformative applications in this rapidly evolving field. Full article

Endophytic fungi (EF) inhabit internal plant tissue in a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship with their host plant. EF synthesizes metabolites that are structurally similar or identical to those found in their host plants, which include alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolic compounds, polysaccharides, proteins, lipids, and organic acids. These molecules have promising therapeutic effects, such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor activities. Wound healing has earned attention in recent years because of its relation to chronic pathological diseases. This systematic review scanned the available scientific literature database about the wound-healing properties of EF biomolecules. Amongst 994 works, 24 were screened after abstract and full-text reading. The studies were published between 2014 and 2026, in twelve countries. In total, 16 studies presented in vivo assays, 11 studies presented in vitro assays, and 3 studies presented both assays. Most studies identified molecules, which include melanin, benzoic acid, terpenes, sesquiterpenes (purpurolide), extracellular polysaccharides, exopolysaccharides, carotenoids, fatty acids, proteins, pyrones, quinones, and hydrocarbon acids, among others. A meta-analysis was not conducted due to high heterogeneity across extracts, methodologies, and outcomes. All studies showed wound-healing properties from EF extracts. The findings suggest a positive effect of EF extracts on wound-healing properties and the need for standardized in vitro and in vivo protocols. Full article

Aging is one of the most complex biological processes, which leads to a gradual decline in the function of organs, tissues and cells, and significant increases in the risks of many age-associated diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. Protein biomarkers have attracted increasing attention in research on aging and age-related diseases. Considering the fact that proteins are large heterogenous biomolecules due to coding polymorphisms, alternative RNA splicing and post-translational modifications (PTMs), including glycosylation, phosphorylation, and methylation, mass spectrometry (MS)-based top-down proteomics (TDP) is a powerful technology that allows for measuring proteins without proteolysis, thus characterizing intact forms of proteins, which provides information on primary sequences, including their modifications. This review provides an overview of TDP technologies, with a particular focus on the separation, ionization, and fragmentation of intact proteins and introduces the most recent applications of TDP to the discovery of proteoform-resolved biomarkers associated with aging and age-related diseases. Full article

Transcription factor 19 (TCF19) is a multifunctional biomolecule located within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I region on chromosome 6p21.3. Structurally, TCF19 contains a plant homeodomain (PHD) finger that recognizes histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) and a forkhead-associated (FHA) domain with yet-uncharacterized functions. Emerging evidence positions TCF19 as a multifunctional regulator associated with cell cycle progression, transcriptional regulation, cancer progression, and immune modulation through epigenetic and signaling mechanisms. This review provides the first systematic synthesis of TCF19’s structural domains, regulatory networks, and context-dependent functions across cancer and non-cancer diseases. We highlight critical knowledge gaps, including the unresolved function of its FHA domain and the lack of direct small-molecule inhibitors. In cancer, TCF19 drives proliferation, metastasis, immune evasion, and therapy resistance. Beyond cancer, TCF19 is involved in metabolic diseases, chronic infections, inflammatory disorders, and sensory deficits. TCF19 serves as a promising molecular biomarker for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment response monitoring, though direct targeting strategies remain unavailable. Full article

Nuclear transport is a vital system that mediates movement of essential biomolecules between the nucleus and cytoplasm. It is tightly regulated by the Importin (IMP) superfamily to maintain separation of cellular compartments. Cellular stress in various forms, particularly oxidative, can suspend nuclear transport and lead to cell death. Prolonged oxidative stress manifests in myriad conditions, including cancer, viral infection and metabolic disease. An IMP protein, Importin-13 (IMP13), retains function under stress, while all other IMP family members tested to date do not. Phylogenetic and structural analysis revealed Transportin-3 (TNPO3) as the closest homologue of IMP13, suggesting it may also retain its function under stress. Subcellular localisation studies indicated that TNPO3 maintained its typical subcellular localisation, even in the presence of stress, unlike most IMP family members. Also, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) demonstrated that TNPO3 shuttling is unaffected under stress. Co-immunoprecipitation studies examining cargo binding revealed the capacity of TNPO3 to bind its cargo in the presence of stress. This demonstrated for the first time that TNPO3 retains functionality under stress conditions, in contrast to other IMPs, but similar to IMP13. Furthermore, both IMP13 and TNPO3 appear to protect against the potentially critical mislocalisation of Ran, a key molecule involved in the maintenance of the nuclear transport system. Full article

The arbitrary-order hidden Markov model ($\alpha$-HMM) is a nontrivial generalization of the standard HMM, designed to model stochastic processes with higher-order dependences among arbitrarily distant random events. The $\alpha$-HMM admits an efficient Viterbi-style optimal decoding algorithm, making it feasible to discover higher-order dependences among data objects in observed sequential data. Because the $\alpha$-HMM exceeds the expressive power of standard HMMs, fixed $k\mathrm{th}$-order HMMs, and stochastic context-free grammars, effective probabilistic parameter estimation approaches are required to translate this theoretical expressiveness of the $\alpha$-HMM into practical utility. This paper introduces a principled methodology for effective estimation of probabilistic parameters of the $\alpha$-HMM from observed data. In large-scale sequential datasets, higher-order dependencies can vary widely across instances, so a single global parameter set may be inadequate. Instead, an amortized parameter inference approach is proposed for the $\alpha$-HMM, in which an input-conditioned parameter estimator is learned from data and used to infer instance-specific parameters for each input instance to the decoding algorithm. Specifically, the neural parameter estimator is trained using a composite learning objective that is partially enabled by the optimal decoding algorithm. The effectiveness of the proposed parameter estimation method is demonstrated through empirical results of the application of the $\alpha$-HMM in biomolecular structure modeling and prediction. Full article

The Escherichia genus includes both commensal and pathogenic species and is characterized by its diversity and adaptability to the mammalian gut and other environments. Among these species, E. coli has facilitated many scientific advances as a model organism. Recently, a new member of the Escherichia genus, Escherichia marmotae, has been described as a phylogenetically distinct clade that shows the greatest genetic divergence from E. coli. This review explores E. marmotae, its cryptic evolution, distinct characteristics, and ecological niches. E. marmotae has recently gained scientific prominence due to its association with animal feces, environmental occurrence, human clinical samples, and emerging as a potential pathogen. While its pathogenicity remains understudied, growing evidence from clinical, environmental, and animal sources suggests the need for heightened surveillance. This review highlights current knowledge gaps, underscores the need for improved diagnostic tools, and proposes future research directions to elucidate the clinical and ecological implications of this emerging pathogen. Full article

Rare-earth elements (REEs), which include the entire lanthanide series together with scandium and yttrium, have unique electronic configurations and coordination chemical properties that provide them with special magnetic, optical, and redox abilities. Generally used for diagnostic imaging and theranostic applications, increasing evidence emphasizes their potential as direct anticancer agents. This review aims to present a thorough investigation of the studies published in the last ten years that focus on the intrinsic anticancer properties of REE-based molecular complexes and nanostructures, without discussing their recognized imaging functions. Rare-earth compounds exhibit selective cytotoxicity against malignant cells via mechanisms that mainly include modulations in the generation of reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial dysfunctions, interaction with DNA molecules, apoptosis, and ferroptosis induction, as well as radiosensitization. Molecular complexes that are based on the trivalent coordination chemistry of REEs enable them to target biomolecules like DNA and serum albumin. Nanostructured systems, on the other hand, render tumors more responsive to treatment by improving the cellular uptake, enabling surface functionalization, and controlling ROS generation. Terbium, thulium, yttrium, scandium, ytterbium, cerium, erbium, dysprosium, and europium show different levels of anticancer activity in both in vitro and in vivo cancer models. They often exert more toxicity in tumor cells than in normal tissues, thus exhibiting selective anticancer effects. The findings collectively underscore the therapeutic potential of REE-based compounds as novel metal-based anticancer agents and advocate for additional mechanistic and translational research to enhance their clinical applicability. Full article

Six 1,4-disubstituted pyrazoles linked to a benzenesulfonamide and a benzodioxane unit have been synthesized through a copper(I)-catalyzed formal [3+2] cycloaddition (32CA) reaction of alkynes with 3-arylsydnones. The Cu-catalyzed sydnone–alkyne cycloaddition (CuSAC) procedure has been optimized to promote the formation of the pyrazole ring and to deliver in three steps the six target compounds 5a–f, fully characterized by ¹H/¹³C-NMR and mass spectrometry (EIMS). Ten solvent conditions were evaluated. The reaction proceeded most efficiently in the presence of copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate in aqueous t-butanol in the presence sodium acetate, to reach a yield of 96%. The mechanism of the Cu(I)-catalyzed reaction has been studied within the Molecular Electron Density Theory (MEDT). This rection is a domino process that consists in a Cu(I)-catalyzed formal [3+2] cycloaddition followed of an extrusion of CO₂ yielding the final pyrazole. The capacity of heterocyclic compounds 5a–f to interact with human cyclophilin A (Cyp A), which is a host cofactor for hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1), and with the HIV-1 protein gp120-CD4 was evaluated using molecular docking. Compounds 5a,b,d,f showed a satisfactory protein binding capacity. The physicochemical and metabolic properties of the compounds were also evaluated in silico. These predictions provide important information to guide future design in this series of potential antiviral agents. Full article

Single-atom nanozymes (SANs) with atomically dispersed metal sites show great potential in small biomolecule detection. This review first summarizes SAN synthesis (wet chemistry, atomic layer deposition, etc.), structural features (tunable coordination, metal-carrier interactions), and catalytic mechanisms (synergistic effects, d-band modulation). Afterwards, this review focuses on the applications of SANs in detecting small biomolecules, including glucose, glutathione, uric acid, ascorbic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and dopamine via colorimetry, fluorescence, and electrochemistry. Challenges such as matrix interference and stability, along with future directions in flexible electronics and clinical translation, are discussed, aiming to advance SAN-based detection technologies. Full article