Advancements in Drug Delivery Systems for the Treatment of Sarcopenia: An Updated Overview.

Since sarcopenia is a progressive condition that leads to decreased muscle mass and function, especially in elderly people, it is a public health problem that requires attention from researchers. This review aims to highlight drug delivery systems that have a high and efficient therapeutic potential for sarcopenia. Current as well as future research needs to consider the barriers encountered in the realization of delivery systems, such as the route of administration, the interaction of the systems with the aggressive environment of the human body, the efficient delivery and loading of the systems with therapeutic agents, and the targeted delivery of therapeutic agents into the muscle tissue without creating undesirable adverse effects. Thus, this paper sets the framework of existing drug delivery possibilities for the treatment of sarcopenia, serving as an inception point for future interdisciplinary studies.

An Up-to-Date Review of Materials Science Advances in Bone Grafting for Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology.

Bone grafting in oral and maxillofacial surgery has evolved significantly due to developments in materials science, offering innovative alternatives for the repair of bone defects. A few grafts are currently used in clinical settings, including autografts, xenografts, and allografts. However, despite their benefits, they have some challenges, such as limited availability, the possibility of disease transmission, and lack of personalization for the defect. Synthetic bone grafts have gained attention since they have the potential to overcome these limitations. Moreover, new technologies like nanotechnology, 3D printing, and 3D bioprinting have allowed the incorporation of molecules or substances within grafts to aid in bone repair. The addition of different moieties, such as growth factors, stem cells, and nanomaterials, has been reported to help mimic the natural bone healing process more closely, promoting faster and more complete regeneration. In this regard, this review explores the currently available bone grafts, the possibility of incorporating substances and molecules into their composition to accelerate and improve bone regeneration, and advanced graft manufacturing techniques. Furthermore, the presented current clinical applications and success stories for novel bone grafts emphasize the future potential of synthetic grafts and biomaterial innovations in improving patient outcomes in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Nanomaterials in Immunology: Bridging Innovative Approaches in Immune Modulation, Diagnostics, and Therapy.

The intersection of immunology and nanotechnology has provided significant advancements in biomedical research and clinical applications over the years. Immunology aims to understand the immune system's defense mechanisms against pathogens. Nanotechnology has demonstrated its potential to manipulate immune responses, as nanomaterials' properties can be modified for the desired application. Research has shown that nanomaterials can be applied in diagnostics, therapy, and vaccine development. In diagnostics, nanomaterials can be used for biosensor development, accurately detecting biomarkers even at very low concentrations. Therapeutically, nanomaterials can act as efficient carriers for delivering drugs, antigens, or genetic material directly to targeted cells or tissues. This targeted delivery improves therapeutic efficacy and reduces the adverse effects on healthy cells and tissues. In vaccine development, nanoparticles can improve vaccine durability and extend immune responses by effectively delivering adjuvants and antigens to immune cells. Despite these advancements, challenges regarding the safety, biocompatibility, and scalability of nanomaterials for clinical applications are still present. This review will cover the fundamental interactions between nanomaterials and the immune system, their potential applications in immunology, and their safety and biocompatibility concerns.

Advancements in Aerogel Technology for Antimicrobial Therapy: A Review.

This paper explores the latest advancements in aerogel technology for antimicrobial therapy, revealing their interesting capacity that could improve the current medical approaches for antimicrobial treatments. Aerogels are attractive matrices because they can have an antimicrobial effect on their own, but they can also provide efficient delivery of antimicrobial compounds. Their interesting properties, such as high porosity, ultra-lightweight, and large surface area, make them suitable for such applications. The fundamentals of aerogels and mechanisms of action are discussed. The paper also highlights aerogels' importance in addressing current pressing challenges related to infection management, like the limited drug delivery alternatives and growing resistance to antimicrobial agents. It also covers the potential applications of aerogels in antimicrobial therapy and their possible limitations.

Silica nanoparticles in medicine: overcoming pathologies through advanced drug delivery, diagnostics, and therapeutic strategies.

Over the last decades, silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) have been studied for their applications in biomedicine as an alternative used for conventional diagnostics and treatments. Since their properties can be modified and adjusted for the desired use, they have many different potential applications in medicine: they can be used in diagnosis because of their ability to be loaded with dyes and their increased selectivity and sensitivity, which can improve the quality of the diagnostic process. SiNPs can be functionalized by targeting ligands or molecules to detect certain cellular processes or biomarkers with better precision. Targeted delivery is another fundamental use of SiNPs. They could be used as drug delivery systems (DDS) since their structure allows the loading of therapeutic agents or other compounds, and studies have demonstrated their biocompatibility. When SiNPs are used as DDS, the drug's toxicity and the off-target effects are reduced significantly, and they can be used to treat conditions like cancer and neurological diseases and even aid in regenerative processes, such as wound healing or bone repair. However, safety concerns must be considered before SiNPs can be used extensively in clinical practice because NPs can cause toxicity in certain conditions and accumulate at undesired locations. Therefore, an overview of the potential applications that SiNPs could have in medicine, as well as their safety concerns, will be covered in this review paper.

Metallic nanomaterials - targeted drug delivery approaches for improved bioavailability, reduced side toxicity, and enhanced patient outcomes.

This paper explores the integral role of metallic nanomaterials in drug delivery, specifically focusing on their unique characteristics and applications. Exhibiting unique size, shape, and surface features, metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) (e.g., gold, iron oxide, and silver NPs) present possibilities for improving medication efficacy while minimizing side effects. Their demonstrated success in improving drug solubility, bioavailability, and targeted release makes them promising carriers for treating a variety of diseases, including inflammation and cancer, which has one of the highest rates of mortality in the world. Furthermore, it is crucial to acknowledge some limitations of MNPs in drug delivery before successfully incorporating them into standard medical procedures. Thus, challenges such as potential toxicity, issues related to long-term safety, and the need for standardized production methods will also be addressed.

New 3D Vortex Microfluidic System Tested for Magnetic Core-Shell Fe3O4-SA Nanoparticle Synthesis.

This study's main objective was to fabricate an innovative three-dimensional microfluidic platform suitable for well-controlled chemical syntheses required for producing fine-tuned nanostructured materials. This work proposes using vortex mixing principles confined within a 3D multilayered microreactor to synthesize magnetic core-shell nanoparticles with tailored dimensions and polydispersity. The newly designed microfluidic platform allowed the simultaneous obtainment of Fe3O4 cores and their functionalization with a salicylic acid shell in a short reaction time and under a high flow rate. Synthesis optimization was also performed, employing the variation in the reagents ratio to highlight the concentration domains in which magnetite is mainly produced, the formation of nanoparticles with different diameters and low polydispersity, and the stability of colloidal dispersions in water. The obtained materials were further characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), with the experimental results confirming the production of salicylic acid-functionalized iron oxide (Fe3O4-SA) nanoparticles adapted for different further applications.

Fabrication and Advanced Imaging Characterization of Magnetic Aerogel-Based Thin Films for Water Decontamination.

Aerogels have emerged as appealing materials for various applications due to their unique features, such as low density, high porosity, high surface area, and low thermal conductivity. Aiming to bring the advantages of these materials to the environmental field, this study focuses on synthesizing magnetic silica aerogel-based films suitable for water decontamination. In this respect, a novel microfluidic platform was created to obtain core-shell iron oxide nanoparticles that were further incorporated into gel-forming precursor solutions. Afterward, dip-coating deposition was utilized to create thin layers of silica-based gels, which were further processed by 15-hour gelation time, solvent transfer, and further CO2 desiccation. A series of physicochemical analyses (XRD, HR-MS FT-ICR, FT-IR, TEM, SEM, and EDS) were performed to characterize the final films and intermediate products. The proposed advanced imaging experimental model for film homogeneity and adsorption characteristics confirmed uniform aerogel film deposition, nanostructured surface, and ability to remove pesticides from contaminated water samples. Based on thorough investigations, it was concluded that the fabricated magnetic aerogel-based thin films are promising candidates for water decontamination and novel solid-phase extraction sample preparation.

Organic Nanoparticles in Progressing Cardiovascular Disease Treatment and Diagnosis.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), the world's most prominent cause of mortality, continue to be challenging conditions for patients, physicians, and researchers alike. CVDs comprise a wide range of illnesses affecting the heart, blood vessels, and the blood that flows through and between them. Advances in nanomedicine, a discipline focused on improving patient outcomes through revolutionary treatments, imaging agents, and ex vivo diagnostics, have created enthusiasm for overcoming limitations in CVDs' therapeutic and diagnostic landscapes. Nanomedicine can be involved in clinical purposes for CVD through the augmentation of cardiac or heart-related biomaterials, which can be functionally, mechanically, immunologically, and electrically improved by incorporating nanomaterials; vasculature applications, which involve systemically injected nanotherapeutics and imaging nanodiagnostics, nano-enabled biomaterials, or tissue-nanoengineered solutions; and enhancement of sensitivity and/or specificity of ex vivo diagnostic devices for patient samples. Therefore, this review discusses the latest studies based on applying organic nanoparticles in cardiovascular illness, including drug-conjugated polymers, lipid nanoparticles, and micelles. Following the revised information, it can be concluded that organic nanoparticles may be the most appropriate type of treatment for cardiovascular diseases due to their biocompatibility and capacity to integrate various drugs.

Infection-Free and Enhanced Wound Healing Potential of Alginate Gels Incorporating Silver and Tannylated Calcium Peroxide Nanoparticles.

The treatment of chronic wounds involves precise requirements and complex challenges, as the healing process cannot go beyond the inflammatory phase, therefore increasing the healing time and implying a higher risk of opportunistic infection. Following a better understanding of the healing process, oxygen supply has been validated as a therapeutic approach to improve and speed up wound healing. Moreover, the local implications of antimicrobial agents (such as silver-based nano-compounds) significantly support the normal healing process, by combating bacterial contamination and colonization. In this study, silver (S) and tannylated calcium peroxide (CaO2@TA) nanoparticles were obtained by adapted microfluidic and precipitation synthesis methods, respectively. After complementary physicochemical evaluation, both types of nanoparticles were loaded in (Alg) alginate-based gels that were further evaluated as possible dressings for wound healing. The obtained composites showed a porous structure and uniform distribution of nanoparticles through the polymeric matrix (evidenced by spectrophotometric analysis and electron microscopy studies), together with a good swelling capacity. The as-proposed gel dressings exhibited a constant and suitable concentration of released oxygen, as shown for up to eight hours (UV-Vis investigation). The biofilm modulation data indicated a synergistic antimicrobial effect between silver and tannylated calcium peroxide nanoparticles, with a prominent inhibitory action against the Gram-positive bacterial biofilm after 48 h. Beneficial effects in the human keratinocytes cultured in contact with the obtained materials were demonstrated by the performed tests, such as MTT, LDH, and NO.

Emerging Therapeutic Strategies in Sarcopenia: An Updated Review on Pathogenesis and Treatment Advances.

Sarcopenia is a prevalent degenerative skeletal muscle condition in the elderly population, posing a tremendous burden on diseased individuals and healthcare systems worldwide. Conventionally, sarcopenia is currently managed through nutritional interventions, physical therapy, and lifestyle modification, with no pharmaceutical agents being approved for specific use in this disease. As the pathogenesis of sarcopenia is still poorly understood and there is no treatment recognized as universally effective, recent research efforts have been directed at better comprehending this illness and diversifying treatment strategies. In this respect, this paper overviews the new advances in sarcopenia treatment in correlation with its underlying mechanisms. Specifically, this review creates an updated framework for sarcopenia, describing its etiology, pathogenesis, risk factors, and conventional treatments, further discussing emerging therapeutic approaches like new drug formulations, drug delivery systems, stem cell therapies, and tissue-engineered scaffolds in more detail.

An Updated Overview of Magnetic Composites for Water Decontamination.

Water contamination by harmful organic and inorganic compounds seriously burdens human health and aquatic life. A series of conventional water purification methods can be employed, yet they come with certain disadvantages, including resulting sludge or solid waste, incomplete treatment process, and high costs. To overcome these limitations, attention has been drawn to nanotechnology for fabricating better-performing adsorbents for contaminant removal. In particular, magnetic nanostructures hold promise for water decontamination applications, benefiting from easy removal from aqueous solutions. In this respect, numerous researchers worldwide have reported incorporating magnetic particles into many composite materials. Therefore, this review aims to present the newest advancements in the field of magnetic composites for water decontamination, describing the appealing properties of a series of base materials and including the results of the most recent studies. In more detail, carbon-, polymer-, hydrogel-, aerogel-, silica-, clay-, biochar-, metal-organic framework-, and covalent organic framework-based magnetic composites are overviewed, which have displayed promising adsorption capacity for industrial pollutants.

Synthesis and Characterization of New N-acyl Hydrazone Derivatives of Carprofen as Potential Tuberculostatic Agents.

N-acyl hydrazone (NAH) is recognized as a promising framework in drug design due to its versatility, straightforward synthesis, and attractive range of biological activities, including antimicrobial, antitumoral, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties. In the global context of increasing resistance of pathogenic bacteria to antibiotics, NAHs represent potential solutions for developing improved treatment alternatives. Therefore, this research introduces six novel derivatives of (EZ)-N'-benzylidene-2-(6-chloro-9H-carbazol-2-yl)propanehydrazide, synthesized using a microwave-assisted method. In more detail, we joined two pharmacophore fragments in a single molecule, represented by an NSAID-type carprofen structure and a hydrazone-type structure, obtaining a new series of NSAID-N-acyl hydrazone derivatives that were further characterized spectrally using FT-IR, NMR, and HRMS investigations. Additionally, the substances were assessed for their tuberculostatic activity by examining their impact on four strains of M. tuberculosis, including two susceptible to rifampicin (RIF) and isoniazid (INH), one susceptible to RIF and resistant to INH, and one resistant to both RIF and INH. The results of our research highlight the potential of the prepared compounds in fighting against antibiotic-resistant M. tuberculosis strains.

Novel strategies based on natural products and synthetic derivatives to overcome resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

One of the biggest health challenges of today's world is the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which renders conventional therapeutics insufficient and urgently demands the generation of novel antimicrobial strategies. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis), the pathogen causing tuberculosis (TB), is among the most successful bacteria producing drug-resistant infections. The versatility of M. tuberculosis allows it to evade traditional anti-TB agents through various acquired and intrinsic mechanisms, rendering TB among the leading causes of infectious disease-related mortality. In this context, researchers worldwide focused on establishing novel approaches to address drug resistance in M. tuberculosis, developing diverse alternative treatments with varying effectiveness and in different testing phases. Overviewing the current progress, this paper aims to briefly present the mechanisms involved in M. tuberculosis drug-resistance, further reviewing in more detail the under-development antibiotics, nanotechnological approaches, and natural therapeutic solutions that promise to overcome current treatment limitations.

An Updated Overview of Silica Aerogel-Based Nanomaterials.

Silica aerogels have gained much interest due to their unique properties, such as being the lightest solid material, having small pore sizes, high porosity, and ultralow thermal conductivity. Also, the advancements in synthesis methods have enabled the creation of silica aerogel-based composites in combination with different materials, for example, polymers, metals, and carbon-based structures. These new silica-based materials combine the properties of silica with the other materials to create a new and reinforced architecture with significantly valuable uses in different fields. Therefore, the importance of silica aerogels has been emphasized by presenting their properties, synthesis process, composites, and numerous applications, offering an updated background for further research in this interdisciplinary domain.

Nanostructured Coatings Based on Graphene Oxide for the Management of Periprosthetic Infections.

To modulate the bioactivity and boost the therapeutic outcome of implantable metallic devices, biodegradable coatings based on polylactide (PLA) and graphene oxide nanosheets (nGOs) loaded with Zinforo™ (Zin) have been proposed in this study as innovative alternatives for the local management of biofilm-associated periprosthetic infections. Using a modified Hummers protocol, high-purity and ultra-thin nGOs have been obtained, as evidenced by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigations. The matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) technique has been successfully employed to obtain the PLA-nGO-Zin coatings. The stoichiometric and uniform transfer was revealed by infrared microscopy (IRM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies. In vitro evaluation, performed on fresh blood samples, has shown the excellent hemocompatibility of PLA-nGO-Zin-coated samples (with a hemolytic index of 1.15%), together with their anti-inflammatory ability. Moreover, the PLA-nGO-Zin coatings significantly inhibited the development of mature bacterial biofilms, inducing important anti-biofilm efficiency in the as-coated samples. The herein-reported results evidence the promising potential of PLA-nGO-Zin coatings to be used for the biocompatible and antimicrobial surface modification of metallic implants.

Intrastent Restenosis: A Comprehensive Review.

The primary objective of this paper is to delineate and elucidate the contemporary advancements, developments, and prevailing trajectories concerning intrastent restenosis (ISR). We aim to provide a thorough overview of the most recent developments in this area, covering various aspects such as pathophysiological insights, therapeutic approaches, and new strategies for tackling the complex challenges of ISR in modern clinical settings. The authors have undertaken a study to address a relatively new medical challenge, recognizing its significant impact on the morbidity and mortality of individuals with cardiovascular diseases. This effort is driven by the need to fully understand, analyze, and possibly improve the outcomes of this emerging medical issue within the cardiovascular disease field. We acknowledge its considerable clinical implications and the necessity for innovative methods to mitigate its effects on patient outcomes. Therefore, our emphasis was directed towards elucidating the principal facets of the condition's prevalence, expounding upon the foundational mechanisms underscoring conspicuous restenosis, and delineating the risk factors relevant in shaping the contemporary landscape of diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. This thorough examination aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the various dimensions of the condition, including epidemiological data, pathophysiological complexities, and clinical considerations critical for evaluating and enhancing current diagnostic and treatment approaches.

Therapeutic Management of Malignant Wounds: An Update.

OPINION STATEMENT: Malignant fungating wounds (MFW) are severe skin conditions generating tremendous distress in oncological patients with advanced cancer stages because of pain, malodor, exudation, pruritus, inflammation, edema, and bleeding. The classical therapeutic approaches such as surgery, opioids, antimicrobials, and application of different wound dressings are failing in handling pain, odor, and infection control, thus urgently requiring the development of alternative strategies. The aim of this review was to provide an update on the current therapeutic strategies and the perspectives on developing novel alternatives for better malignant wound management. The last decade screened literature evidenced an increasing interest in developing natural treatment alternatives based on beehive, plant extracts, pure vegetal compounds, and bacteriocins. Promising therapeutics can also be envisaged by involving nanotechnology due to either intrinsic biological activities or drug delivery properties of nanomaterials. Despite recent progress in the field of malignant wound care, the literature is still mainly based on in vitro and in vivo studies on small animal models, while the case reports and clinical trials (less than 10 and only one providing public results) remain scarce. Some innovative treatment approaches are used in clinical practice without prior extensive testing in fungating wound patients. Extensive research is urgently needed to fill this knowledge gap and translate the identified promising therapeutic approaches to more advanced testing stages toward creating multidimensional wound care strategies.

Metal-Based Nanoparticles for Cardiovascular Diseases.

Globally, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death and disability. While there are many therapeutic alternatives available for the management of CVDs, the majority of classic therapeutic strategies were found to be ineffective at stopping or significantly/additionally slowing the progression of these diseases, or they had unfavorable side effects. Numerous metal-based nanoparticles (NPs) have been created to overcome these limitations, demonstrating encouraging possibilities in the treatment of CVDs due to advancements in nanotechnology. Metallic nanomaterials, including gold, silver, and iron, come in various shapes, sizes, and geometries. Metallic NPs are generally smaller and have more specialized physical, chemical, and biological properties. Metal-based NPs may come in various forms, such as nanoshells, nanorods, and nanospheres, and they have been studied the most. Massive potential applications for these metal nanomaterial structures include supporting molecular imaging, serving as drug delivery systems, enhancing radiation-based anticancer therapy, supplying photothermal transforming effects for thermal therapy, and being compounds with bactericidal, fungicidal, and antiviral qualities that may be helpful for cardiovascular diseases. In this context, the present paper aims to review the applications of relevant metal and metal oxide nanoparticles in CVDs, creating an up-to-date framework that aids researchers in developing more efficient treatment strategies.

Coatings for Cardiovascular Stents-An Up-to-Date Review.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) increasingly burden health systems and patients worldwide, necessitating the improved awareness of current treatment possibilities and the development of more efficient therapeutic strategies. When plaque deposits narrow the arteries, the standard of care implies the insertion of a stent at the lesion site. The most promising development in cardiovascular stents has been the release of medications from these stents. However, the use of drug-eluting stents (DESs) is still challenged by in-stent restenosis occurrence. DESs' long-term clinical success depends on several parameters, including the degradability of the polymers, drug release profiles, stent platforms, coating polymers, and the metals and their alloys that are employed as metal frames in the stents. Thus, it is critical to investigate new approaches to optimize the most suitable DESs to solve problems with the inflammatory response, delayed endothelialization, and sub-acute stent thrombosis. As certain advancements have been reported in the literature, this review aims to present the latest updates in the coatings field for cardiovascular stents. Specifically, there are described various organic (e.g., synthetic and natural polymer-based coatings, stents coated directly with drugs, and coatings containing endothelial cells) and inorganic (e.g., metallic and nonmetallic materials) stent coating options, aiming to create an updated framework that would serve as an inception point for future research.