Search Results (5,024)

The rising prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) has intensified the demand for innovative blood filtration therapies. Hemoperfusion, which integrates membrane filtration with adsorbent technologies to sequester circulating uremic toxins, represents a promising therapeutic alternative. In this study, polyethersulfone (PES)-powdered activated carbon (PAC) composite membranes were fabricated via nonsolvent-induced phase separation (NIPS), and the molecular weight of polyethylene glycol (PEG) was optimized as a hydrophilic pore-forming agent. Dope solutions were formulated with 15 wt.% PES, 1 wt.% PAC, and 10 wt.% PEG at varying molecular weights (200, 400, 600, and 1000 Da). Comprehensive characterization revealed that PEG molecular weight significantly dictates the structural and functional performance of the resulting composites. The PEG 600 Da variant achieved an optimal balance of properties, characterized by homogeneous PAC dispersion, a peak water flux of 420.88 LMH/Bar, a water contact angle of 37.11°, and a porosity of 74.74%, while maintaining a high Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) rejection of 90.87%. While increasing PEG molecular weight generally enhanced permeability through the formation of an open pore architecture, a performance trade-off was observed beyond the 600 Da threshold due to increased dope viscosity and altered phase inversion kinetics. These findings suggest that PEG 600-optimized PES-PAC membranes offer a high-performance, affordable platform for advanced hemoperfusion applications. Full article

TPEN (N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine) is a ligand containing six nitrogen donors. It is characterized by high structural flexibility, enabling the coordination of metals with various ionic radii and coordination numbers. It is an advanced metal chelator that demonstrates high selectivity, particularly towards “soft” and “medium” metal ions, and has a wide range of applications, from coordination chemistry, materials engineering, and nuclear energy to innovations in medicine. TPEN can cross cell membranes freely, which is important in cell biology. However, its presence is not neutral for healthy cells and can lead to apoptosis by depleting essential metals such as zinc, iron, and copper. Targeted delivery systems are therefore essential. This can be achieved, for example, by using nanoparticles that release TPEN upon ultrasound. This review systematizes the understanding of TPEN complexes. Methods for the coordination of various d-, p-, and f-block metals are presented, as well as the properties of these complexes, which are crucial to understanding the mechanisms of reaction with TPEN. This ligand may find applications both as a diagnostic tool (in sensors) and as a therapeutic tool (by inducing cancer cell death). This work also demonstrates the need to design new and more effective TPEN analogs that overcome problems with solubility and stability in acids. Full article

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor, characterized by poor prognosis and a median survival of 12–18 months despite standard therapies such as surgery, radiation, and temozolomide chemotherapy. Its high cellular heterogeneity, along with complex mechanisms of therapy resistance, presents significant challenges for effective treatment. Conventional systemic chemotherapy is limited by the blood–brain barrier (BBB), systemic toxicity, and insufficient drug penetration into the tumor microenvironment. Emerging therapeutic strategies aim to overcome these barriers through novel chemotherapeutic agents, targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and smart drug delivery systems. Endovascular drug delivery, particularly super-selective intra-arterial cerebral infusion (SSIACI), offers a minimally invasive approach to directly target the tumor vasculature, potentially increasing drug concentration at the tumor site while reducing systemic exposure. Complementary techniques, such as MR-guided focused ultrasound, hyperosmotic disruption, and nanoparticle-based carriers, are being explored to enhance BBB penetration and retention of therapeutics within the tumor. Ongoing clinical trials and translational studies provide insights into optimizing these approaches, with future directions focused on precision medicine, biomarker-driven patient selection, and combination therapies. Integrating endovascular strategies with innovative chemotherapies and immunotherapies may transform GBM management, but further research is required to establish their efficacy and safety in clinical practice. Full article

Metabolic reprogramming is a unifying characteristic of cancer and involves orchestrated changes in glucose, amino acid, lipid, and mitochondrial metabolism that go beyond the well-known Warburg effect. Evidence is accumulating that these metabolic states are actively remodeled by oncogene signaling and tumor suppressor loss, allowing cancer cells to sustain anabolic growth, redox homeostasis, and therapeutic stress. This review provides an overview of new findings on tumor metabolism, mechanisms, and the molecular networks governing this reprogramming. We discuss how the major oncogenic pathways, such as MYC, mTOR, HIF, and AMPK, reprogram metabolism using transcriptional, epigenetic, and post-translational control of metabolic flux. A focus is placed on mitochondrial bioenergetics, dynamics, and metabolite signaling such as cancer cell fitness and stress tolerance-defining factors. We also discussed metabolic crosstalk in the tumor ecosystem, including nutrient competition, metabolite coupling, and immunometabolic reprogramming to coordinate metabolism-mediated effects on tumorigenesis and therapeutic response. The review further considers the mechanistic basis for metabolism-targeted therapies, including pathway dependencies, adaptive responses, and micro-environmental context that constrain clinical benefit. Recent innovations such as spatial metabolomics, single-cell metabolic profiling, and systems-level models have unveiled significant intratumoral heterogeneity of metabolism, and they have provided important information about diverse vulnerabilities to therapeutic intervention. Accordingly, understanding the complex crosstalk between these metabolic networks is crucial to rationally designing combination strategies that selectively leverage cancer-specific metabolic liabilities with minimal toxicities against normal tissues. Full article

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) is fundamentally transforming pharmaceutical sciences, shifting drug formulation and nanocarrier design from traditional empirical approaches toward predictive, data-driven methodologies. By enabling the analysis of large, complex datasets, AI technologies are accelerating decision-making, improving formulation efficiency, and supporting the development of more effective therapeutic systems. Despite these advances, the successful clinical translation of advanced nanomedicines, including polymeric nanoparticles and mRNA–lipid nanoparticle platforms, remains limited by challenges such as biological barriers, highly sensitive formulation parameters, scalability issues, and the limited interpretability of many computational models. This review provides a comprehensive overview of AI applications throughout the pharmaceutical development lifecycle. It explores how classical machine learning algorithms and deep learning architectures optimize conventional dosage forms, enhance formulation development, and enable the rational design of targeted nanocarriers. Particular emphasis is placed on predicting critical quality attributes, encapsulation efficiency, physicochemical properties, drug-release behavior, therapeutic efficacy, and early-stage nanotoxicity. Furthermore, we critically assess the regulatory considerations, manufacturing constraints, data quality issues, and tumor microenvironment heterogeneity that continue to impede bench-to-clinic translation. Ultimately, overcoming these challenges requires moving beyond isolated algorithmic optimization toward an integrated framework that combines computational intelligence, robust experimental validation, and continuous clinical feedback. Such a synergistic approach is expected to drive the next generation of precision nanomedicine and facilitate the safe and effective translation of AI-enabled pharmaceutical innovations into clinical practice. Full article

Background: Patients with head and neck cancer who are undergoing radiotherapy frequently suffer from oral mucositis and oral microecological disorders, which severely impair their quality of life. Oral microbiota transplantation is an emerging oral microecological intervention that offers a novel approach for reconstructing oral microecological balance and relieving mucositis. However, regarding this innovative therapy, there is a paucity of in-depth research into patients’ decision-making cognition, and existing evidence is insufficient to support individualized clinical decision-making guidance. Methods: A descriptive qualitative research design was employed. From July to December 2025, patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy were recruited from a tertiary hospital in Shanghai via purposive sampling. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven-step analysis method. The user label system was refined and summarized to construct user portraits. These portraits were visualized in the form of WordArt word clouds and character labels. Results: A total of 21 eligible patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy participated in the study. The construct of decision-making cognition encompasses five dimensions: treatment prioritization, information needs, health literacy, psychological status, and decision quality. The patients were categorized into four types: proactive participation, passive dependence, weigh carefully, and symptom-driven. These classifications reflect the cognitive characteristics and group differences regarding the Oral Microbiota Transplantation decision-making process among different patients. Conclusions: Patients exhibit considerable variability in their decision-making cognition regarding the innovative OMT therapy. This phenomenon can be categorized into four distinct persona types, which, respectively, reflect unique information processing styles, risk assessments, and behavioral coping strategies when patients encounter novel therapeutic interventions. This typology provides a theoretical foundation for individualized clinical decision support, delineates targets for the formulation of targeted communication strategies, and ultimately enhances patient decision quality and treatment adherence. Full article

Sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBDs) encompasses a spectrum of conditions that disrupt ventilation during sleep, leading to fragmented sleep and impaired gas exchange. Their high prevalence and substantial neurocognitive and mental health outcomes make SRBD clinically significant across multiple medical disciplines. Traditional management includes lifestyle modifications and positive airway pressure (PAP). When non-surgical measures fail or anatomical factors predominate, a range of surgical approaches may be employed, such as uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) or maxillomandibular advancement (MMA). There are many notable emerging surgical advancements, such as hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS), transoral robotic surgery (TORS), and minimally invasive radiofrequency technologies (RFA), that have offered improved outcomes for select patients. Advances in diagnostic tools, such as portable home sleep technologies and drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE), further support precision-based care. Collectively, the expanding range of therapeutic and diagnostic innovations is enabling clinicians to deliver individualized care and improve long-term outcomes for patients with SRBD. Full article

Background/Objectives: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global public health threat, compromising prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. This narrative review examines AMR as a multifactorial and transnational crisis through epidemiological, One Health, social and bioethical perspectives, and discusses emerging non-antibiotic preventive and therapeutic strategies. Methods: PubMed and Scopus were searched using terms related to AMR, epidemiology, public health, surveillance, One Health, bioethics, equity and alternative therapies. Peer-reviewed medical and public health articles were considered, together with selected reports from international organizations and public health agencies. Results: AMR is driven by inappropriate antibiotic use in human medicine, livestock, aquaculture and agriculture, combined with weaknesses in infection prevention, stewardship, environmental control and surveillance. Epidemiological evidence shows a substantial global burden, marked regional inequalities in resistance patterns, surveillance capacity and policy response, and major consequences, including increased mortality, prolonged hospitalization, rising healthcare costs and disproportionate effects on vulnerable populations. Key bioethical concerns include collective responsibility, equitable access to effective treatment, stewardship, global justice and intergenerational accountability. Emerging non-antibiotic strategies vary in translational maturity: vaccines and selected microbiome-based interventions have preventive or supportive roles in defined settings, bacteriophage therapy is used mainly in compassionate or specialized contexts, and many antimicrobial peptides and nanotechnology-based platforms remain experimental or early translational. Conclusions: AMR requires coordinated global action grounded in One Health, strong public health systems, integrated surveillance, responsible antimicrobial use and sustained innovation. Effective containment must also address social inequalities, ethical stewardship, equitable access to diagnostics and treatment, and responsibility toward future generations. Full article

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin disease characterized by substantial clinical and immunological heterogeneity. Once considered primarily a disorder of epidermal barrier dysfunction, AD is now recognized as a complex systemic inflammatory condition involving dysregulated immune responses, epithelial-derived signaling, neuroimmune interactions, and diverse molecular endotypes. Advances in molecular immunology have substantially improved understanding of the cytokine networks underlying disease pathogenesis and have accelerated the transition toward precision medicine approaches in AD. This narrative review summarizes current evidence regarding the immunopathogenesis of AD, focusing on the interplay between classical and emerging cytokine pathways, biomarker development, and recent therapeutic innovations. While interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 remain central drivers of type 2 inflammation and barrier impairment, additional mediators including IL-31, IL-33, IL-22, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), and OX40/OX40L signaling, and the emerging Th9/IL-9 axis contribute to chronic inflammation, neuroimmune activation, epidermal remodeling, pruritus, and disease heterogeneity. Comparative evaluation of these pathways supports the identification of distinct immunological endotypes relevant to disease stratification and targeted therapy. The review further discusses current and emerging biomarkers associated with disease severity, therapeutic responsiveness, and inflammatory profiling, including cytokine signatures, serum biomarkers, and transcriptomic approaches. Recent advances in biologic therapies, Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, and novel cytokine-targeted interventions are discussed within the context of a precision medicine framework integrating immunological profiling, molecular endotyping, and mechanism-based therapeutic innovation. Continued advances in biomarker discovery, multi-omics technologies, and predictive therapeutic algorithms are expected to further refine disease stratification and support increasingly individualized management strategies for patients with AD. Full article

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represents a major global health issue, characterized by persistent airflow limitation, chronic inflammation, and progressive tissue remodeling. Its clinical and molecular heterogeneity, combined with the lack of resolutive therapies, underscores the urgent need for advanced experimental tools to improve understanding and therapeutic development. Traditional 2D cell culture systems, though historically useful, fail to replicate the complexity of the human lung. In this review, we analyze the remarkable relevance of advanced 3D models for studying COPD pathophysiology, including epithelial injury and regeneration, extracellular matrix remodeling, and interactions with environmental triggers such as cigarette smoke and airborne pollutants. Three-dimensional in vitro models, such as ALI cultures, lung organoids, and lung-on-a-chip platforms, PCLS, and lung ECM-derived hydrogels offer more physiologically relevant environments to investigate epithelial dysfunction, immune responses, and host-pathogen interactions. We discuss the contribution of viral and bacterial infections to COPD exacerbations, and explore how 3D models have become essential tools for modeling these events. We also highlight recent advances in personalized medicine that use patient-derived organoids and ALI cultures for drug screening and biomarker discovery. Furthermore, we examine the therapeutic potential of probiotics and extracellular vesicle-associated microRNAs to modulate inflammation and epithelial repair. Collectively, these innovative systems represent powerful platforms to promote precision medicine in COPD. Full article

The skin is the largest organ of the human body and acts as a major protective barrier against external agents. However, the highly organized stratum corneum limits the effective delivery of many therapeutic compounds, especially hydrophilic and high-molecular-weight drugs. Conventional topical formulations often exhibit poor permeability, low bioavailability, and limited targeting efficiency. This review discusses recent advances in nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems, including bio-based, biodegradable, and biocompatible polymeric nanocarriers for dermal and transdermal applications, with particular emphasis on vesicular, polymeric, and hybrid nanosystems. Nanocarriers such as liposomes, ethosomes, transfersomes, polymeric nanoparticles, micelles, nanogels, and lipid–polymer hybrid systems have demonstrated improved drug solubility, stability, controlled release, and skin permeation for localized (dermal) delivery compared with conventional formulations. In addition, biodegradable polymeric materials enhance dermal deposition and prolong drug retention, leading to improved therapeutic efficacy. These nanosystems can facilitate enhanced transdermal drug transport under optimized conditions; however, the extent of systemic delivery varies widely depending on drug physicochemical properties, formulation characteristics, and application conditions. Drug transport may occur through intercellular, transcellular, and follicular pathways, resulting in enhanced bioavailability and site-specific delivery. Claims regarding transdermal (systemic) absorption are restricted to cases supported by in vivo or clinical evidence. Furthermore, combining nanocarriers with microneedles and stimuli-responsive platforms has expanded the potential for controlled and on-demand transdermal delivery. Recent preclinical and clinical studies have reported that nanocarrier-based methotrexate gels reduced PASI-like scores by over 70% in psoriatic models, while oleic acid vesicle formulations achieved more than 95% cure rates in rodent models of tinea corporis. Despite these advances, challenges related to large-scale production, stability, regulatory approval, and clinical translation remain significant. Future developments integrating smart nanocarriers, bio-based polymeric biomaterials, wearable technologies, and AI-assisted design may improve personalized dermatological therapies. These innovations in nanocarrier drug delivery are accelerating the translation of advanced therapies to the clinic, promising safer, more effective and personalized dermatological treatments. Full article

Lysosomal Storage Diseases (LSDs) include roughly 70 inherited metabolic disorders, most of which are expressed in an autosomal recessive pattern. These conditions arise from mutations in genes encoding lysosomal enzymes, leading to intracellular buildup of substrates and subsequent lysosomal dysfunction. LSDs can be broadly classified based on the nature of the stored substrate, encompassing Sphingolipidoses, Mucopolysaccharidoses, Lysosomal Glycogen Storage Disease, Oligosaccharidoses, Mucolipidoses, and Lysosomal Proteinoses. Although individually rare, LSDs collectively affect approximately 1 in 5000 live births. They usually manifest in childhood, but adult-onset types are also detected. Clinical manifestations are heterogeneous and may involve the central nervous system, skeletal system, skin, heart, muscles, kidneys, and other organs. Several therapeutic strategies are available for LSDs, including Enzyme Replacement Therapy to restore deficient enzymes, Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation to provide functional donor-derived cells, Substrate Reduction Therapy and pharmacological chaperones to modulate substrate turnover or enhance enzyme stability, alongside symptomatic and supportive treatments. Ongoing research is also exploring gene therapy-based strategies. Current diagnostic criteria remain insufficient for reliable presymptomatic diagnosis, highlighting the need for more sensitive and specific approaches. In this context, untargeted metabolomics is a powerful strategy to investigate pathogenic pathways, identify novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, and uncover potential therapeutic targets. Accordingly, this review provides an overview of LSDs, focusing on untargeted metabolomics studies and their contribution to the discovery of novel biomarkers and previously unrecognised pathogenic mechanisms relevant to diagnostic and therapeutic innovation. Full article

Chronic wounds remain a major global health challenge despite substantial advances in biomaterials, regenerative medicine, and wound-care technologies. Current therapeutic strategies are largely based on the assumption that chronic wounds represent impaired or incomplete healing responses and therefore require augmentation of regenerative processes. This paradigm has driven the development of increasingly sophisticated wound dressings incorporating extracellular matrix analogs, growth factors, stem cells, extracellular vesicles, biosensors, and bioelectronic components. However, the clinical impact of these innovations has often fallen short of expectations. In this review, we propose a conceptual framework intended to generate experimentally testable hypotheses rather than provide a definitive mechanistic model. Persistent alterations in immune, stromal, vascular, extracellular matrix, metabolic, mechanical, and microbial networks create interconnected feedback systems that resist transition toward regeneration. From this perspective, successful therapy requires not only stimulation of repair mechanisms but also disruption of the processes that stabilize chronicity. We discuss how advances in systems biology, immunomodulatory biomaterials, bioelectronics, artificial intelligence, and precision medicine support the emergence of adaptive therapeutic interfaces capable of sensing, interpreting, and reprogramming pathological tissue behavior. Unlike previous reviews that primarily summarize emerging wound dressings or regenerative biomaterials, this Review proposes a systems-level conceptual framework in which chronic wounds are interpreted as stable pathological tissue states maintained by multiscale biological memory. This perspective integrates biomaterials, systems biology, artificial intelligence, and tissue-state dynamics into a unified translational model that has not previously been presented in the wound-healing literature. Previous reviews have predominantly focused on the design, biological activity, or clinical performance of individual biomaterials. In contrast, the present Review proposes a systems-level framework that integrates wound biology, biological memory, tissue-state dynamics, artificial intelligence, and adaptive biomaterials into a unified conceptual model for precision wound medicine. This state-based model reframes advanced wound dressings as tools for biological state engineering and provides a translational framework for the future of chronic wound management. Full article

The escalation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents a serious global threat to public health, with AMR-associated mortality estimated to increase by 70% by 2050. As pathogens evolve through enzymatic inactivation, target modification, efflux-mediated clearance, biofilm formation, and broader genetic adaptation, conventional therapies are increasingly compromised, while the antibiotic development pipeline remains critically constrained by high discovery and development costs, weak commercial incentives, and the escalating complexity of resistance mechanisms. This review comprehensively synthesizes advanced pharmacological and biotechnological innovations designed to circumvent these entrenched resistance mechanisms. We highlight the development of novel therapeutic classes, particularly lariocidin, which disrupts bacterial protein synthesis via a previously unexploited ribosomal-binding site. Moreover, we critically evaluate molecular interventions, emphasizing CRISPR/Cas-based gene silencing and genome editing as precise tools to neutralize specific resistance determinants, such as the mecA gene in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Concurrently, we explore the integration of engineered nanoparticles to revitalize existing antimicrobials by overcoming biofilm barriers, improving drug solubility, and enabling targeted delivery. Collectively, mastering the evolving AMR landscape requires a multidimensional framework that seamlessly integrates these novel molecular targets with advanced rapid diagnostics and robust international governance. Full article

Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR) is a pivotal technique in dental and orthopedic applications for regenerating bone in areas of deficiency. Natural polymers such as collagen, chitosan, alginate, and gelatin have emerged as essential materials in GBR due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and bioactivity. These polymers not only provide a scaffold for bone regeneration but also support cellular adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. Despite their benefits, challenges such as variable degradation rates, insufficient mechanical strength, and limited bioactivity hinder their optimal clinical use. To address these limitations, ongoing research focuses on enhancing the properties of natural polymers. Composite materials combining fast- and slow-degrading polymers are being developed to achieve consistent degradation rates. Surface modifications, including nanoscale texturing and growth factor coatings, are improving bioactivity. Nanotechnology further enhances the structural and therapeutic potential of GBR materials, while advancements in 3D bioprinting enable the creation of customized scaffolds with precise architecture. These innovations aim to bridge the gap between biological compatibility and clinical functionality, making natural polymers more adaptable and effective in GBR. This review highlights the mechanisms, challenges, and advancements in natural polymers for GBR, emphasizing their potential to transform bone regeneration into a more reliable and patient-centered approach. Full article