Advances in neuropharmacology: Innovative drug strategies targeting synaptic plasticity, neuroinflammation, and ion channel regulation for future CNS treatments.

Next-generation gene editing strategies in cancer: Integrating CRISPR, PROTACs, and advanced molecular technologies.

Akt at the crossroads of microglial function: a double-edged sword in Alzheimer's disease neuroinflammation.

Early detection of cancer remains a major challenge in oncology. Circulating tumour markers (CTMs), including circulating tumour cells, circulating tumour DNA, exosomes, microRNAs, and tumour-associated proteins, offer a minimally invasive strategy for monitoring tumour dynamics through liquid biopsy. However, their clinical translation is limited by low abundance, heterogeneity, and instability in body fluids. Recent advances in nanotechnology have enabled the development of highly sensitive and specific nano-biosensors that address many of these barriers. This review highlights the current progress in CTM detection using electrochemical, optical, plasmonic, and microfluidic-integrated platforms. Advanced nanomaterials such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, noble metal nanoparticles, quantum dots, and nanozymes are discussed for their roles in signal amplification, surface functionalization, and biomarker selectivity. Special focus is placed on lab-on-a-chip and wearable biosensors for multi-marker, point-of-care testing. To amplify the signals associated with nanobiosensors, various technologies, such as surface functionalization, aptamer and antibody functionalization, and nanozymes, have been integrated with the nanobiosensors.

Targeting brain tumors remains a formidable challenge due to the presence of complex physiological barriers, notably the blood-brain barrier (BBB), the blood-brain tumor barrier (BBTB), and the nose- tobrain barrier. These barriers hinder effective drug delivery, limiting therapeutic efficacy. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the anatomical and molecular characteristics of these barriers, with particular emphasis on the heterogeneity of the BBTB and its implications for targeted drug transport. A detailed overview of various brain tumor types-including glioblastoma, pediatric brain tumors, and brain metastases-is presented alongside a critical evaluation of existing therapeutic modalities. The review highlights the advancement of ultramolecular pharmaceuticals specifically engineered to circumvent the BBTB, focusing on both transvascular and cell-mediated delivery mechanisms. The role of nanomedicine in modulating the immune response and altering the tumor microenvironment is explored as a promising avenue for enhancing therapeutic outcomes. Particular emphasis is placed on nanogels as a versatile and efficient drug delivery platform. Key fabrication techniques such as precipitation polymerization, emulsion polymerization, self-assembly, and micro-templating methods are thoroughly discussed, alongside strategies for polymer crosslinking to enhance stability and functionality. In addition, the review addresses preclinical evaluation strategies, including in vitro models (e.g., BBB-mimicking systems, tumor spheroids) and in vivo studies in animal models, to assess the safety, biodistribution, and therapeutic efficacy of nanogel-based systems. Finally, current clinical progress, challenges, and future perspectives are presented, underscoring the urgent need for innovative, targeted, and personalized drug delivery approaches. This review aims to guide future research in overcoming delivery obstacles and improving outcomes for patients with brain tumors through the strategic integration of advanced nanotechnology and molecular targeting.

Cancer remains one of the most challenging diseases to treat effectively, primarily due to the complex and adaptive nature of the tumour microenvironment. Traditional therapies often fail to target the TME adequately, leading to resistance and relapse. Recent advancements in nanotechnology have opened new avenues for targeted cancer therapy, offering innovative solutions to overcome these challenges. This review provides a comprehensive overview of nano-therapeutics designed to target the TME, highlighting their mechanisms, current progress, and prospects. By emphasizing the relationship between nanotherapeutics and different TME constituents, such as immune cells, stromal cells, and extracellular matrix, we want to clarify how these innovative techniques might improve therapeutic efficacy and reduce side effects. The potential of combining nano-therapeutics with conventional treatments is also explored, emphasizing a multi-faceted strategy in the fight against cancer.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, responsible for nearly 9.8million deaths and 19.2million new cases annually, a figure projected to rise to 13million deaths and over 21million new cases by 2030. Despite advances in diagnosis and therapy, limitations such as systemic toxicity, drug resistance, and non-specific targeting hinder effective treatment outcomes. Triptolide (TPL), a diterpenoid triepoxide derived from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, exhibits potent anticancer activity by inducing apoptosis, inhibiting angiogenesis, modulating immune responses, and sensitizing resistant cancer cells. However, its clinical utility is restricted by poor solubility, rapid metabolism, and multi-organ toxicity. Recent advancements in nanotechnology have enabled the development of nanocarrier-based delivery systems that improve TPL's bioavailability, pharmacokinetics, and tumor-targeting efficiency. Nanoplatforms such as polymeric nanoparticles, liposomes, micelles, dendrimers, and biomimetic vesicles allow controlled release, enhanced tumor accumulation, and reduced systemic toxicity. These systems also facilitate synergistic co-delivery with chemotherapeutics, overcoming multidrug resistance. This review comprehensively highlights the formulation strategies, mechanistic insights, and preclinical applications of TPL-loaded nanocarriers across various cancers, along with current challenges and translational perspectives. Collectively, nanocarrier-mediated TPL delivery offers a safer and more effective approach, redefining future directions in cancer therapy.

Honey bee venom (HBV) represents a unique interface between allergy and oncology, exemplifying how allergen-derived molecules can be repurposed as anti-cancer agents. Melittin, the principal component of HBV, accounts for 40%-50% of its dry weight and is responsible for most of its biological activity. Beyond its well-established role as a potent allergen and mast cell activator, melittin displays broad anti-tumour properties across multiple cancer models. Preclinical evidence demonstrates that melittin induces cancer cell death through membrane disruption, mitochondrial and death receptor-mediated apoptosis, ferroptosis, and inhibition of key oncogenic pathways, including PI3K/Akt/mTOR, NF-κB, and HIF-1α/VEGF signalling. Additional effects include suppression of angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, invasion, and metastatic dissemination, as well as modulation of the tumour immune microenvironment. However, the clinical translation of melittin is limited by its intrinsic haemolytic activity, systemic toxicity, and high allergenic potential. Advances in nanotechnology, targeted delivery systems, and venom-inspired peptide engineering are addressing these barriers, enabling tumour-selective delivery while reducing off-target effects. This EAACI Task Force Position Paper integrates current evidence on melittin within the emerging field of AllergoOncology. It highlights its dual relevance for allergists and oncologists and outlines the translational challenges to be overcome and opportunities to enable safe clinical application.

Pectin nanoparticles (PNPs) having both pectin and nanomaterials properties, and have been used in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics formulations for developing products with unique properties. In the present study, PNPs were prepared using ionotropic gelation method and Mg2+, as cross-linked ion, under microwave-accelerated heating technique. PNPs in the colloidal form were then lyophilized to prepare PNPs in the powder form. Results indicated that using obtained optimum amount of Mg2+ to pectin volume ratio (0.1) and microwave heating time (155s) using response surface methodology, PNPs with minimum particle size (390 ± 10nm) and polydispersity index (0.312 ± 0.010) and maximum zeta potential (-23.17 ± 1.5 mV) were produced in the colloidal form. The colloidal form of the PNPs was subjected to lyophilization conditions (pressure and temperature of 100Pa and - 60°C, for 48h) and physico-chemical properties of the prepared PNPs in the powder, were assessed by Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and dynamic light scattering methods. Results indicated that the lyophilized PNPs were fabricated in rod shape with amorphous state and smooth surface. Results indicated that by decreasing the concentration of PNPs in the solutions from 1 to 0.01%, viscosity and density also decreased from 1.514 to 1.208 cp. and 1.0045 to 1.0017g/mL, respectively. Preparation of PNPs as a promising bridge between natural polysaccharides and advanced nanotechnology applications, can explore PNPs role in various formulations and new products.

Allergic disorders, including food allergy, asthma, and atopic dermatitis, affect an estimated 10-30% of the global population, with prevalence continuing to rise in industrialized countries. Allergy is driven by dysregulated type 2 T-helper cells (Th2) and immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody responses. A range of diagnostic tools is available, but most methods are limited by variable sensitivity and specificity, and the inability to predict clinical reactivity. Although allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) remains the only etiological therapeutic method for allergic disorders, conventional AITs are limited by frequent administration, risk of adverse events, suboptimal patient adherence, and inconsistent long-term efficacy. Advances in nanotechnology offer emerging opportunities for improving allergy diagnosis and treatment through enhanced analytical sensitivity, targeted allergen delivery and controlled immune modulation. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest research on nanomaterials, including their application in nanomaterials-based diagnostic systems and nano-enabled immunotherapies. We highlight their roles in improving allergen-specific IgE detection, refining functional cellular assays, and enabling next-generation immunotherapies through controlled allergen delivery and immunomodulation. We also critically examine key translational barriers and outline essential future directions required for translating nanotechnologies into clinical practice in allergy medicine.

Biomaterials are substances designed to interact with living systems for diagnostic, therapeutic, or regenerative purposes. Their clinical success is governed not only by their bulk physicochemical properties but more importantly, by their surface properties and interfacial characteristics, which regulate early protein adsorption and subsequently downstream cellular responses. Biocompatibility, therefore, extends far beyond the absence of toxicity, encompassing the ability of a material to modulate the foreign body response, promote tissue repair, and tissue integration. Understanding these mechanisms is essential for designing materials that minimize fibrous encapsulation while enhancing regeneration. This need becomes particularly evident in dental implantology, where biomaterials are indispensable for functional rehabilitation, yet biological complications continue to represent a major clinical challenge. In response to these limitations, recent advances in surface engineering and nanotechnology have facilitated the development of bioactive materials to enhance healing outcomes. Building upon these developments, the present review compiles and critically examines current evidence on interactions between a biomaterial surface and surrounding tissue, with a particular emphasis on host response, regulatory frameworks, and their translational implications. Furthermore, it discusses preclinical validation strategies in accordance with ISO guidelines and proposes a pragmatic roadmap for clinical translation, with special attention to the importance of regulatory alignment.

Thermally responsive optical materials attract wide applications in information encryption, smart sensors, and intelligent interfaces. However, simultaneously achieving optical switching and multimodal responsiveness with long-term stability remains a challenge. Herein, we develop a thermochromic wood veneer (TWV) that integrates characteristics of color-transparency switching with multimodal thermal activation. This is achieved by incorporating thermochromic microcapsules into a porous wood scaffold and inducing interactions between PVA and cellulose molecules. The resulting TWV exhibits a response temperature about 31 °C in ambient conditions, favorable cyclic stability over 500 thermal cycles, and superior tolerant temperature (-196 °C to 100 °C). Moreover, TWV demonstrates multicolor-transparency switching and diverse thermal activation modalities, including bulk heating, heat transfer printing, and lithography printing. Leveraging the advancement of wood nanotechnology, this work establishes an insight into developing optical and thermal dynamic-response devices from natural resources for advanced applications, such as heat transfer/lithography printing, information encryption/decryption, and smart sensors and tags.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) constitutes a prototypical lethal genetic disorder characterized by profound pathophysiological barriers that severely compromise both diagnostic performance and targeted therapeutic efficacy. Although the advent of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulators has revolutionized disease management, the critical clinical imperatives for ultra-sensitive diagnostic modalities and deep pulmonary delivery systems remain largely unmet. This comprehensive review critically evaluates the transformative potential of nanotechnology in remodeling the dual diagnostic and therapeutic landscapes of CF. Initially, we highlight the integration of advanced nanoscale sensors for the real-time and ultra-sensitive profiling of sweat biomarkers, specific genetic mutations, and respiratory metabolites. These innovations fundamentally elevate early diagnostic precision and continuous disease monitoring capabilities. Concurrently, we systematically elucidate how precision-engineered nanocarriers circumvent formidable mucosal and extracellular polymeric substance biofilms. These vehicles facilitate the targeted pulmonary delivery of diverse pharmacological payloads, including CFTR modulators, mucolytics, complex nucleic acid therapeutics and antimicrobial agents. Ultimately, transitioning from engineering conceptualization to clinical application, we dialectically analyze the multifaceted translational hurdles. This review establishes a rigorous roadmap for propelling diagnostic and therapeutic nanomedicine toward clinical accessible realities.

Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic and progressive lung disease with a high mortality rate. Current conventional therapeutic drugs are limited by problems such as low bioavailability, inadequate pulmonary drug concentration, poor targeting, and significant systemic toxicity, which restrict their clinical efficacy. In recent years, advances in nanotechnology have provided new strategies for its treatment. Nanocarriers have significantly improved drug delivery efficiency and therapeutic outcomes in pulmonary fibrosis, demonstrating promising application prospects. Therefore, this review summarizes the nanocarriers widely used in drug delivery for pulmonary fibrosis in recent years, aiming to provide new insights into drug delivery for this disease.

Encapsulation technology is vital in food, pharmaceutical, and biomedical fields for protecting and delivering sensitive bioactive compounds. Proteins, due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and functional diversity, are increasingly used as carriers to enhance stability, bioavailability, and controlled release of bioactives. However, environmental factors such as pH, ionic strength, and enzymatic degradation can limit protein performance. This article reviews novel structural designs and modification strategies for protein-based delivery systems to improve encapsulation efficiency, stability, and targeted delivery of bioactive compounds. The study covers a range of protein architectures, including self-assembled nanostructures, protein nanoparticles, micelles, hydrogels, and hybrid protein-polymer systems. Techniques such as coacervation, crosslinking, and stimuli-responsive mechanisms are discussed to enhance delivery properties. Encapsulation efficiency, protection against degradation, controlled release, and bioavailability enhancement are analyzed. Novel protein structures, such as self-assembled nanocages and hybrid composites, demonstrated superior encapsulation and protection of bioactives against environmental and gastrointestinal degradation. Cross-linking and stimuli-responsive carriers enable targeted and controlled release. Encapsulation techniques such as spray drying, enzymatic cross-linking, and protein-polymer conjugation improve the mechanical and chemical stability of delivery systems. Codelivery platforms and surface functionalization further improve targeted absorption and therapeutic efficacy. Applications span the food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and biomedical sectors, demonstrating promising results in enhancing the stability of functional ingredients, improving drug delivery, and advancing tissue engineering. Innovative protein-based delivery systems with tailored structural modifications offer enhanced encapsulation, protection, and controlled bioactive release, overcoming traditional limitations. Continued advancements in protein engineering and nanotechnology are crucial for optimizing these systems for clinical and industrial use, though challenges such as scalability and enzymatic degradation remain to be addressed.

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, emphasizing the urgent need for therapeutic strategies that are both effective and biocompatible. Advances in nanotechnology have enabled the development of innovative drug delivery systems with improved pharmacological profiles. Among these, carbon dots (CDs) have emerged as versatile nanomaterials owing to their intrinsic luminescence, facile synthesis, excellent biocompatibility, and antioxidant activity. Their surface modification with cyclodextrins (Cyds) further enhances functionality by enabling host-guest complexation with therapeutic molecules. In this work, we designed and comparatively evaluated β- and γ-cyclodextrin-functionalized carbon dots (β-Cyd-CDs and γ-Cyd-CDs) as nanocarriers for the anthracycline drug doxorubicin (DOX), with the aim of elucidating how cyclodextrin cavity size influences drug-carrier interactions and release behavior. Spectroscopic analyses confirmed DOX binding through inclusion complex formation, leveraging the luminescent behavior of CDs to monitor interaction events. Drug loading studies revealed that β-Cyd-CD exhibited significantly higher loading efficiency than γ-Cyd-CD, highlighting the influence of cyclodextrin cavity size on host-guest complexation with doxorubicin. Drug release experiments under physiological-like conditions revealed a moderated and sustained release profile, with release rates approximately 25-60% slower than free DOX, attributed to the combined effects of cyclodextrin inclusion and surface interactions within the nanoplatform. In vitro assays demonstrated that DOX-loaded Cyd-CDs retained potent antiproliferative activity against tumor cells while exhibiting reduced cytotoxicity toward normal fibroblasts. These findings demonstrate that cyclodextrin-functionalized carbon dots constitute a versatile supramolecular nanoplatform for controlled drug delivery, where host-guest interactions can be rationally tuned to modulate drug loading and release behavior.

Limitations in the efficacy and safety of conventional oncologic regimens have driven a radical reappraisal of drug delivery paradigms, prompting the emergence of albumin-facilitated nanoscale delivery vehicles as a versatile solution to longstanding pharmacological challenges. These platforms, constructed from the abundant plasma protein, exhibit an intrinsic capacity for molecular self-assembly, robust drug encapsulation, and selective interaction with target cell populations through both passive and active targeting mechanisms. By incorporating stimuli-responsive coatings and programmable surface ligands, albumin-driven nanostructures are able to synchronize drug release with the physiological and molecular context of neoplastic tissue, thereby reducing systemic toxicity and bolstering therapeutic outcomes. This study reveals the latest advances in protein nanotechnology, including scalable fabrication protocols, real-time monitoring capabilities, and approaches to mitigate immunogenicity. The discussion further interrogates the translational landscape, addressing critical bottlenecks in clinical trial design, bioethical considerations, and the integration of patient genetic profiling for optimized treatment selection. Collectively, the evidence presented underscores the transformative potential of albumin-mediated platforms in achieving next-generation, patient-centered cancer care.

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder that is frequently complicated by impaired wound healing, resulting in diabetic foot ulcers, amputations, and long-term disability. Conventional wound management strategies often fail due to persistent inflammation, oxidative stress, vascular dysfunction, and neuropathy. Recent advances in nanotechnology and biomarker research have emerged as promising approaches to improve diabetic wound healing outcomes. A comprehensive literature review was conducted using PubMed, ScienceDirect, Elsevier, Web of Science, and Google Scholar to identify relevant studies published up to January 2025. Peerreviewed original research articles and reviews were screened using keywords related to diabetic wound healing, nanotherapeutics, nanoparticles, biomarkers, tissue engineering, and clinical translation. Nanotherapeutic systems, including metallic nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, nanofibres, lipid-based carriers, hydrogels, and bioengineered exosomes, have demonstrated antimicrobial, pro-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects in preclinical and clinical studies. These systems promote accelerated wound closure, enhance collagen deposition, improve angiogenesis, and reduce the inflammatory burden. Additionally, emerging biomarkers, such as microRNAs, cytokines, and angiogenic factors, provide valuable insights into wound progression, therapeutic response, and tissue regeneration. The integration of biomarker monitoring with nanocarrier-based delivery systems supports a personalised and adaptive wound care strategy. The combined application of nanotherapeutics and biomarker-based diagnostics addresses key pathological barriers in diabetic wound healing and offers improved therapeutic precision. However, translational challenges remain, including biosafety concerns, long-term toxicity, regulatory complexities, and variability in clinical outcomes. Nanotechnology-based therapeutics integrated with biomarker-driven assessment represent a promising and evolving paradigm for DM wound management, with the potential to enhance healing efficiency and support personalised treatment approaches; further large-scale clinical validation is warranted.

Spatial metabolomics enables in situ mapping of metabolites within tissues, which is crucial for understanding physiological and pathological processes, including tumor metabolic reprogramming, neurodegenerative disease mechanisms, and drug distribution in target organs. Mass spectrometry imaging is a powerful tool for spatial metabolomics research. With the advancement of mass spectrometry and nanotechnology, surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (SALDI-MSI) that uses nanomaterials instead of organic matrices has emerged, effectively overcoming the inherent limitations of traditional methods in small-molecule metabolite analysis, such as matrix background interference and uneven crystallization. Consequently, SALDI-MSI has become a highly promising analytical technique. This article systematically reviews the latest progress of nanomaterial-enhanced SALDI-MSI in spatial metabolomics. It first introduces various mass spectrometry imaging techniques used in spatial metabolomics, explains their working principles, and compares their advantages and disadvantages. Then, the fundamental mechanisms of SALDI are described to provide a theoretical basis for nanomaterial design, followed by a discussion of common sample preparation methods in SALDI-MSI. The review focuses on the design strategies and application cases of typical nanomaterials for SALDI-MSI, including metal/metal oxide nanoparticles, carbon-based materials, thin-film materials, and nanostructured silicon platforms. Finally, challenges and future directions in standardization, reproducibility, and quantification are discussed. This review aims to provide a reference for the rational design of high-performance SALDI substrates and to promote the development of spatial metabolomics.

Vaccination remains one of the most effective strategies for preventing infectious diseases. Yet, the success of modern vaccines increasingly depends on the rational design of adjuvants that enhance and shape immune responses. In this review, we examine current and emerging adjuvant strategies for viral vaccines across the human lifespan. Traditional adjuvants, particularly aluminum salts, have long served as the foundation of vaccine formulations. Still, their limitations have driven the exploration of novel platforms, including emulsions, nucleic acid-based adjuvants, and advanced particulate delivery platforms with intrinsic immunostimulatory properties. These newer approaches act through diverse mechanisms, such as activating innate immune pathways via pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and stimulating antigen-presenting cells (APCs), thereby improving both humoral and cellular immunity. Recent advances in molecular biology, nanotechnology, and systems vaccinology have deepened mechanistic understanding and enabled more precise modulation of immune responses. However, significant challenges remain, including incomplete knowledge of adjuvant mechanisms, limited diversity among licensed adjuvants, safety concerns, and inconsistent efficacy across age groups. In particular, immune immaturity in infants and immunosenescence in older adults highlight the need for age-specific adjuvant strategies. The review identifies critical gaps in comparative studies, long-term safety data, and the development of adjuvants capable of inducing broad and durable immunity. Further, this article integrates licensed and emerging viral vaccine adjuvants through a lifespan framework. Addressing these limitations through interdisciplinary research and precision-based approaches will be essential for advancing next-generation vaccines and improving global preparedness for emerging infectious diseases.