In situ evaluation of the impact of metformin or verapamil coadministration with vildagliptin on its regional absorption from the rabbit's intestine.

This research aims to identify regional differences in vildagliptin absorption across the intestinal membrane. Furthermore, it was to investigate the effect of verapamil or metformin on vildagliptin absorptive clearance. The study utilized an in situ rabbit intestinal perfusion technique to determine vildagliptin oral absorption from duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and ascending colon. This was conducted both with and without perfusion of metformin or verapamil. The findings revealed that the vildagliptin absorptive clearance per unit length varied by site and was in the order as follows: ileum < jejunum < duodenum < ascending colon, implying that P-gp is significant in the reduction of vildagliptin absorption. Also, the arrangement cannot reverse intestinal P-gp, but the observations suggest that P-gp is significant in reducing vildagliptin absorption. Verapamil co-perfusion significantly increased the vildagliptin absorptive clearance by 2.4 and 3.2 fold through the jejunum and ileum, respectively. Metformin co-administration showed a non-significant decrease in vildagliptin absorptive clearance through all tested segments. Vildagliptin absorption was site-dependent and may be related to the intestinal P-glycoprotein content. This may aid in understanding the important elements that influence vildagliptin absorption, besides drug-drug interactions that can occur in type 2 diabetic patients taking vildagliptin in conjunction with other drugs that can modify the P-glycoprotein level.

Integrating Forward and Reverse Translation in PBPK Modeling to Predict Food Effect on Oral Absorption of Weakly Basic Drugs.

INTRODUCTION: Ketoconazole and posaconazole are two weakly basic broad-spectrum antifungals classified as Biopharmaceutics Classification System class II drugs, indicating that they are highly permeable, but exhibit poor solubility. As a result, oral bioavailability and clinical efficacy can be impacted by the formulation performance in the gastrointestinal system. In this work, we have leveraged in vitro biopharmaceutics and clinical data available in the literature to build physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models for ketoconazole and posaconazole, to determine the suitability of forward in vitro-in vivo translation for characterization of in vivo drug precipitation, and to predict food effect. METHODS: A stepwise modeling approach was utilized to derive key parameters related to absorption, such as drug solubility, dissolution, and precipitation kinetics from in vitro data. These parameters were then integrated into PBPK models for the simulation of ketoconazole and posaconazole plasma concentrations in the fasted and fed states. RESULTS: Forward in vitro-in vivo translation of intestinal precipitation kinetics for both model drugs resulted in poor predictions of PK profiles. Therefore, a reverse translation approach was applied, based on limited fitting of precipitation-related parameters to clinical data. Subsequent simulations for ketoconazole and posaconazole demonstrated that fasted and fed state PK profiles for both drugs were adequately recapitulated. CONCLUSION: The two examples presented in this paper show how middle-out modeling approaches can be used to predict the magnitude and direction of food effects provided the model is verified on fasted state PK data.

Applications of trimetallic nanomaterials as Non-Enzymatic glucose sensors.

OBJECTIVE: This article critically reviews recent research on the use of trimetallic nanomaterials for the fabrication of non-enzymatic glucose sensors (NEGS), also known as fourth-generation glucose sensors (FGGS). SIGNIFICANCE: Diabetes is a prevalent chronic disease worldwide, and glucose monitoring is crucial for its management. However, conventional enzymatic glucose sensors suffer from several technological drawbacks, and there is a need to develop new-generation glucose sensors that can overcome these limitations. NEGS, particularly those composed of trimetallic nanocomposites, have demonstrated promising results in terms of improved shelf life, higher sensitivity, and simplicity of operation during glucose measurement. METHODS: In this review, we discuss the different trimetallic nanomaterials developed and used by researchers in recent years for glucose detection, including their mechanisms of action. We also provide a brief discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of FGGS-based trimetallic nanomaterials, as well as the industrial challenges in this area of research. RESULTS: Trimetallic nanomaterials for FGGS have shown excellent reproducibility and high stability, making them suitable for continuous glucose monitoring. The different types of trimetallic nanomaterials have varying sensing properties, and their performance can be tuned by controlling their synthesis parameters. CONCLUSION: Trimetallic nanomaterials are a promising avenue for the development of FGGS, recent research has demonstrated their potential for glucose monitoring. However, there are still some challenges that need to be addressed before their widespread adoption, such as their long-term stability and cost-effectiveness. Further research in this area is needed to overcome these challenges and to develop commercially viable FGGS for diabetes management.

Toward the cholinesterase inhibition potential of TADDOL derivatives: Seminal biological and computational studies.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a degenerative neurological disease characterized by gradual loss of cognitive skills and memory. The exact pathogenesis involved still remains unrevealed, but several studies indicate the involvement of an array of different enzymes, underlining the multifactorial character of the disease. Inhibition of these enzymes is therefore a powerful approach in the development of AD treatments, with promising candidates, including acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), and monoamine oxidase. Interestingly, AChE is the target of a major pesticide family (organophosphates), with several reports indicating an intersection between the pesticide's activity and AD. In this study, various TADDOL derivatives were synthesized and their in vitro activities as AChE/BuChE inhibitors as well as their antioxidant activities were studied. Molecular modeling studies revealed the capability of TADDOL derivatives to bind to AChE and induce inhibition, especially compounds 2b and 3c furnishing IC50 values of 36.78 ± 8.97 and 59.23 ± 5.31 µM, respectively. Experimental biological activities and molecular modeling studies clearly demonstrate that TADDOL derivatives with specific stereochemistry have an interesting potential for the design of potent AChE inhibitors. The encouraging results for compounds 2b and 3c indicate them as promising scaffolds for selective and potent AChE inhibitors.

Targeting LIN28: a new hope in prostate cancer theranostics.

The mortality and morbidity rates for prostate cancer have recently increased to alarming levels, rising higher than lung cancer. Due to a lack of drug targets and molecular probes, existing theranostic techniques are limited. Human LIN28A and its paralog LIN28B overexpression are associated with a number of tumors resulting in a remarkable increase in cancer aggression and poor prognoses. The current review aims to highlight recent work identifying the key roles of LIN28A and LIN28B in prostate cancer, and to instigate further preclinical and clinical research in this important area.

Innovative Three-Step Microwave-Promoted Synthesis of N-Propargyltetrahydroquinoline and 1,2,3-Triazole Derivatives as a Potential Factor Xa (FXa) Inhibitors: Drug Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation.

The coagulation cascade is the process of the conversion of soluble fibrinogen to insoluble fibrin that terminates in production of a clot. Factor Xa (FXa) is a serine protease involved in the blood coagulation cascade. Moreover, FXa plays a vital role in the enzymatic sequence which ends with the thrombus production. Thrombosis is a common causal pathology for three widespread cardiovascular syndromes: acute coronary syndrome (ACS), venous thromboembolism (VTE), and strokes. In this research a series of N-propargyltetrahydroquinoline and 1,2,3-triazole derivatives as a potential factor Xa (FXa) inhibitor were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their FXa inhibitor activity, cytotoxicity activity and coagulation parameters. Rational design for the desired novel molecules was performed through protein-ligand complexes selection and ligand clustering. The microwave-assisted synthetic strategy of selected compounds was carried out by using Ullmann-Goldberg, N-propargylation, Mannich addition, Friedel-Crafts, and 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition type reactions under microwave irradiation. The microwave methodology proved to be an efficient way to obtain all novel compounds in high yields (73-93%). Furthermore, a thermochemical analysis, optimization and reactivity indexes such as electronic chemical potential (µ), chemical hardness (η), and electrophilicity (ω) were performed to understand the relationship between the structure and the energetic behavior of all the series. Then, in vitro analysis showed that compounds 27, 29-31, and 34 exhibited inhibitory activity against FXa and the corresponding half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values were calculated. Next, a cell viability assay in HEK293 and HepG2 cell lines, and coagulation parameters (anti FXa, Prothrombin time (PT), activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT)) of the most active novel molecules were performed to determine the corresponding cytotoxicity and possible action on clotting pathways. The obtained results suggest that compounds 27 and 29 inhibited FXa targeting through coagulation factors in the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways. However, compound 34 may target coagulation FXa mainly by the extrinsic and common pathway. Interestingly, the most active compounds in relation to the inhibition activity against FXa and coagulation parameters did not show toxicity at the performed coagulation assay concentrations. Finally, docking studies confirmed the preferential binding mode of N-propargyltetrahydroquinoline and 1,2,3-triazole derivatives inside the active site of FXa.

Cellular signalling pathways mediating the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory respiratory diseases: an update.

Respiratory disorders, especially non-communicable, chronic inflammatory diseases, are amongst the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Respiratory diseases involve multiple pulmonary components, including airways and lungs that lead to their abnormal physiological functioning. Several signaling pathways have been reported to play an important role in the pathophysiology of respiratory diseases. These pathways, in addition, become the compounding factors contributing to the clinical outcomes in respiratory diseases. A range of signaling components such as Notch, Hedgehog, Wingless/Wnt, bone morphogenetic proteins, epidermal growth factor and fibroblast growth factor is primarily employed by these pathways in the eventual cascade of events. The different aberrations in such cell-signaling processes trigger the onset of respiratory diseases making the conventional therapeutic modalities ineffective. These challenges have prompted us to explore novel and effective approaches for the prevention and/or treatment of respiratory diseases. In this review, we have attempted to deliberate on the current literature describing the role of major cell signaling pathways in the pathogenesis of pulmonary diseases and discuss promising advances in the field of therapeutics that could lead to novel clinical therapies capable of preventing or reversing pulmonary vascular pathology in such patients.

Development and Validation of a Chromatographic Ultraviolet Method for the Simultaneous Quantification of Dolutegravir and Rilpivirine in Human Plasma.

BACKGROUND: We have developed and validated a high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous quantification, in human plasma, of dolutegravir, a new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) integrase inhibitor, and rilpivirine, a novel HIV nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor. METHODS: An internal standard (quinoxaline) was added to plasma aliquots (500 µL), and a simple solid-phase extraction procedure was applied. Chromatographic separation of the drugs and internal standard was achieved with a gradient of acetonitrile and acetate buffer, and with an analytical run time of 25 minutes using an XBridge C18 column. The column eluate was monitored at 260 nm for dolutegravir and the internal standard and at 305 nm for rilpivirine. RESULTS: The method was linear in the range of 20-8000 and 20-2000 ng/mL for dolutegravir and rilpivirine, respectively (mean r ≥ 0.993 on 10 replicates for both analytes). Mean intraday and interday precision and inaccuracy were <15% for both compounds. The mean recovery was 73% and 80% for dolutegravir and rilpivirine, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet method we developed showed a good analytical performance required for therapeutic drug monitoring of antiretrovirals, leading to potential improvements in HIV-infected patient care and laboratory management.

Comparison of the QMS Analyzer With HPLC-UV for the Quantification of Lamotrigine Concentrations in Human Plasma Samples.

BACKGROUND: Recently, a turbidimetric immunoassay method has been developed for use in the form of a QMS lamotrigine (LTG) commercial immunoassay. This study was designed to evaluate the performance of this immunoassay using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet (HPLC-UV) method as the reference. METHODS: The performance of QMS was initially tested using drug-free plasma spiked with different amounts of LTG and, subsequently, by analyzing 61 trough plasma samples from epileptic patients given the drug as part of their maintenance antiepileptic therapies. RESULTS: The correlation between LTG concentrations measured by QMS and HPLC was good, with a Pearson coefficient of 0.968 (P < 0.0001). The Bland-Altman approach showed that LTG concentrations measured with QMS exceeded HPLC on an average by 15.6% (limits of agreement, -18% to +63%), with a concentration-dependent performance (mean percent bias, 49.5 ± 8.2% and 0.6 ± 12.7% for concentrations less than 2 mg/L and greater than 14.9 mg/L, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The QMS provided acceptable analytical performance across a wide concentration range for routine LTG measurements, being at least comparable with the other commercial immunoassays. It could be, therefore, considered as a viable alternative to HPLC methods for routine LTG monitoring in the clinical practice, although its suitability for accurate analysis of samples with low concentration is limited.

Targeting Allosteric Site of PCSK9 Enzyme for the Identification of Small Molecule Inhibitors: An In Silico Drug Repurposing Study.

The primary cause of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) plays a crucial role in this process by binding to the LDL receptor (LDL-R) domain, leading to reduced influx of LDL-C and decreased LDL-R cell surface presentation on hepatocytes, resulting higher circulating levels of LDL-C. As a consequence, PCSK9 has been identified as a crucial target for drug development against dyslipidemia and hypercholesterolemia, aiming to lower plasma LDL-C levels. This research endeavors to identify promising inhibitory candidates that target the allosteric site of PCSK9 through an in silico approach. To start with, the FDA-approved Drug Library from Selleckchem was selected and virtually screened by docking studies using Glide extra-precision (XP) docking mode and Smina software (Version 1.1.2). Subsequently, rescoring of 100 drug compounds showing good average docking scores were performed using Gnina software (Version 1.0) to generate CNN Score and CNN binding affinity. Among the drug compounds, amikacin, bestatin, and natamycin were found to exhibit higher docking scores and CNN affinities against the PCSK9 enzyme. Molecular dynamics simulations further confirmed that these drug molecules established the stable protein-ligand complexes when compared to the apo structure of PCSK9 and the complex with the co-crystallized ligand structure. Moreover, the MM-GBSA calculations revealed binding free energy values ranging from -84.22 to -76.39 kcal/mol, which were found comparable to those obtained for the co-crystallized ligand structure. In conclusion, these identified drug molecules have the potential to serve as inhibitors PCSK9 enzyme and these finding could pave the way for the development of new PCSK9 inhibitory drugs in future in vitro research.

Mechanistic Modeling of In Vitro Biopharmaceutic Data for a Weak Acid Drug: A Pathway Towards Deriving Fundamental Parameters for Physiologically Based Biopharmaceutic Modeling.

Mechanistic modeling of in vitro experiments using metabolic enzyme systems enables the extrapolation of metabolic clearance for in vitro-in vivo predictions. This is particularly important for successful clearance predictions using physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling. The concept of mechanistic modeling can also be extended to biopharmaceutics, where in vitro data is used to predict the in vivo pharmacokinetic profile of the drug. This approach further allows for the identification of parameters that are critical for oral drug absorption in vivo. However, the routine use of this analysis approach has been hindered by the lack of an integrated analysis workflow. The objective of this tutorial is to (1) review processes and parameters contributing to oral drug absorption in increasing levels of complexity, (2) outline a general physiologically based biopharmaceutic modeling workflow for weak acids, and (3) illustrate the outlined concepts via an ibuprofen (i.e., a weak, poorly soluble acid) case example in order to provide practical guidance on how to integrate biopharmaceutic and physiological data to better understand oral drug absorption. In the future, we plan to explore the usefulness of this tutorial/roadmap to inform the development of PBPK models for BCS 2 weak bases, by expanding the stepwise modeling approach to accommodate more intricate scenarios, including the presence of diprotic basic compounds and acidifying agents within the formulation.

Adult and pediatric physiologically-based biopharmaceutics modeling to explain lamotrigine immediate release absorption process.

Physiologically-based biopharmaceutics modeling (PBBM) has potential to accelerate the development of new drug and formulations. An important application of PBBM is for special populations such as pediatrics that have pharmacokinetics dependent on the maturation process. Lamotrigine (LTG) is a Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) II drug and is widely prescribed. Therefore, the goal of this study was to assess the biopharmaceutics risk of the low-soluble drug LTG when the ontogeny on gastrointestinal tract (GIT) physiological parameters are considered. An oral physiologically-based pharmacokinetic model and a PBBM were developed and verified using GastroPlus™ software for both adults and children (2-12 years old, 12-52 kg). The biopharmaceutics properties and GIT physiological parameters were evaluated by sensitivity analysis. High doses were simulated assuming a worst case scenario, that is, the dose of 200 mg for adults and 5 mg/kg (up to the maximum of 200 mg) for 2-year-old children. Although several authors have suggested that ontogeny may have an effect on gastrointestinal fluid volume, our study found no evidence of interference between fluid and dose volumes with in vivo dissolution of LTG. The most impactful parameter was found to be the gastric transit time. Therefore, the hypothesis is developed to examine whether LTG exhibits characteristics of a BCS II classification in vitro while showing BCS I-like behavior in vivo. This hypothesis could act as a base for conducting novel studies on model-informed precision dosing, tailored to specific populations and clinical conditions. In addition, it could be instrumental in assessing the influence of various release profiles on in vivo performance for both adult and pediatric populations.

Cellular signaling in the hypoxic cancer microenvironment: Implications for drug resistance and therapeutic targeting.

The rewiring of cellular metabolism is a defining characteristic of cancer, as tumor cells adapt to acquire essential nutrients from a nutrient-poor environment to sustain their viability and biomass. While hypoxia has been identified as a major factor depriving cancer cells of nutrients, recent studies have revealed that cancer cells distant from supporting blood vessels also face nutrient limitations. To overcome this challenge, hypoxic cancer cells, which heavily rely on glucose as an energy source, employ alternative pathways such as glycogen metabolism and reductive carboxylation of glutamine to meet their energy requirements for survival. Our preliminary studies, alongside others in the field, have shown that under glucose-deficient conditions, hypoxic cells can utilize mannose and maltose as alternative energy sources. This review aims to comprehensively examine the hypoxic cancer microenvironment, its association with drug resistance, and potential therapeutic strategies for targeting this unique niche. Furthermore, we will critically evaluate the current literature on hypoxic cancer microenvironments and explore state-of-the-art techniques used to analyze alternate carbohydrates, specifically mannose and maltose, in complex biological fluids. We will also propose the most effective analytical methods for quantifying mannose and maltose in such biological samples. By gaining a deeper understanding of the hypoxic cancer cell microenvironment and its role in drug resistance, novel therapeutic approaches can be developed to exploit this knowledge.

Advances in glioblastoma multiforme: Integrating therapy and pathology perspectives.

Glioblastoma, a highly lethal form of brain cancer, is characterized by its aggressive growth and resistance to conventional treatments, often resulting in limited survival. The response to therapy is notably influenced by various patient-specific genetic factors, underscoring the disease's complexity. Despite the utilization of diverse treatment modalities such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, many patients experience local relapse, emphasizing the critical need for improved therapeutic strategies to effectively target these formidable tumors. Recent years have witnessed a surge in interest in natural products derived from plants, particularly alkaloids, for their potential anticancer effects. Alkaloids have shown promise in cancer chemotherapy by selectively targeting crucial signaling pathways implicated in tumor progression and survival. Specifically, they modulate the NF-κB and MAPK pathways, resulting in reduced tumor growth and altered gene expression across various cancer types. Additionally, alkaloids exhibit the capacity to induce cell cycle arrest, further impeding tumor proliferation in several malignancies. This review aims to delineate recent advances in understanding the pathology of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and to explore the potential therapeutic implications of alkaloids in managing this deadly disease. By segregating discussions on GBM pathology from those on alkaloid-based therapies, we provide a structured overview of the current challenges in GBM treatment and the promising opportunities presented by alkaloid-based interventions. Furthermore, we briefly discuss potential future directions in GBM research and therapy beyond alkaloids, including emerging treatment modalities or areas of investigation that hold promise for improving patient outcomes. In conclusion, our efforts offer hope for enhanced outcomes and improved quality of life for GBM patients through alkaloid-based therapies. By integrating insights from pathology and therapeutic perspectives, we underscore the significance of a comprehensive approach in addressing this devastating disease.

Non-coding RNAs as Key Regulators of the Notch Signaling Pathway in Glioblastoma: Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Targets.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly invasive brain malignancy originating from astrocytes, accounting for approximately 30% of central nervous system malignancies. Despite advancements in therapeutic strategies including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiopharmaceutical drugs, the prognosis for GBM patients remains dismal. The aggressive nature of GBM necessitates the identification of molecular targets and the exploration of effective treatments to inhibit its proliferation. The Notch signaling pathway, which plays a critical role in cellular homeostasis, becomes deregulated in GBM, leading to increased expression of pathway target genes such as MYC, Hes1, and Hey1, thereby promoting cellular proliferation and differentiation. Recent research has highlighted the regulatory role of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in modulating Notch signaling by targeting critical mRNA expression at the post-transcriptional or transcriptional levels. Specifically, various types of ncRNAs, including long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs), have been shown to control multiple target genes and significantly contribute to the carcinogenesis of GBM. Furthermore, these ncRNAs hold promise as prognostic and predictive markers for GBM. This review aims to summarize the latest studies investigating the regulatory effects of ncRNAs on the Notch signaling pathway in GBM.

Development of optimal in vitro release and permeation testing method for rectal suppositories.

Currently there are no compendial assays for testing drug release from rectal suppositories. It is therefore essential to study different in vitro release testing (IVRT) and in vitro permeation testing (IVPT) methods for identifying a suitable technique to compare in vitro drug release and to predict in vivo performance of rectal suppositories. In the present study, three different rectal suppository formulations of mesalamine (CANASA, Generic, and In-house) were studied for in vitro bioequivalence. All the different suppository products were characterized by performing weight variation, content uniformity, hardness, melting time, and pH tests. Viscoelastic behavior of the suppositories was also tested both in presence and absence of mucin. Four different IVRT techniques such as Dialysis, Horizontal Ussing Chamber, Vertical Franz cell, and USP apparatus 4. IVPT studies were performed using Horizontal Ussing chamber and Vertical Franz cell methods. Q1/Q2 equivalent products (CANASA, Generic) and a half-strength product were studied to understand the reproducibility, bio relevance, and discriminatory ability of the IVRT and IVPT methods. This study is the first of its kind where molecular docking studies were performed to determine the potential interactions of drug (mesalamine) with mucin, IVRT studies were conducted with and without the presence of mucin, and porcine rectal mucosa was used to perform IVPT tests. The USP 4 method and Horizontal Ussing chamber methods were found to be suitable IVRT and IVPT techniques, respectfully, for rectal suppositories. RLD (Reference Listed Drug) and Generic rectal suppositories were found to exhibit similar release rate and permeation profiles obtained from USP 4, and the IVPT studies, respectfully. Wilcoxon Rank Sum/Mann-Whitney rank test, conducted for the IVRT profiles obtained using USP 4 method, proved the sameness of RLD and Generic suppository products.

3D Printed Personalized Colon-targeted Tablets: A Novel Approach in Ulcerative Colitis Management.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) are two types of idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that are increasing in frequency and incidence worldwide, particularly in highly industrialized countries. Conventional tablets struggle to effectively deliver anti-inflammatory drugs since the inflammation is localized in different areas of the colon in each patient. The goal of 3D printing technology in pharmaceutics is to create personalized drug delivery systems (DDS) that are tailored to each individual's specific needs. This review provides an overview of existing 3D printing processes, with a focus on extrusion-based technologies, which have received the most attention. Personalized pharmaceutical products offer numerous benefits to patients worldwide, and 3D printing technology is becoming more affordable every day. Custom manufacturing of 3D printed tablets provides innovative ideas for developing a tailored colon DDS. In the future, 3D printing could be used to manufacture personalized tablets for UC patients based on the location of inflammation in the colon, resulting in improved therapeutic outcomes and a better quality of life.

Biomedical applications of three-dimensional bioprinted craniofacial tissue engineering.

Anatomical complications of the craniofacial regions often present considerable challenges to the surgical repair or replacement of the damaged tissues. Surgical repair has its own set of limitations, including scarcity of the donor tissues, immune rejection, use of immune suppressors followed by the surgery, and restriction in restoring the natural aesthetic appeal. Rapid advancement in the field of biomaterials, cell biology, and engineering has helped scientists to create cellularized skeletal muscle-like structures. However, the existing method still has limitations in building large, highly vascular tissue with clinical application. With the advance in the three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting technique, scientists and clinicians now can produce the functional implants of skeletal muscles and bones that are more patient-specific with the perfect match to the architecture of their craniofacial defects. Craniofacial tissue regeneration using 3D bioprinting can manage and eliminate the restrictions of the surgical transplant from the donor site. The concept of creating the new functional tissue, exactly mimicking the anatomical and physiological function of the damaged tissue, looks highly attractive. This is crucial to reduce the donor site morbidity and retain the esthetics. 3D bioprinting can integrate all three essential components of tissue engineering, that is, rehabilitation, reconstruction, and regeneration of the lost craniofacial tissues. Such integration essentially helps to develop the patient-specific treatment plans and damage site-driven creation of the functional implants for the craniofacial defects. This article is the bird's eye view on the latest development and application of 3D bioprinting in the regeneration of the skeletal muscle tissues and their application in restoring the functional abilities of the damaged craniofacial tissue. We also discussed current challenges in craniofacial bone vascularization and gave our view on the future direction, including establishing the interactions between tissue-engineered skeletal muscle and the peripheral nervous system.

Identification of structural scaffold from interbioscreen (IBS) database to inhibit 3CLpro, PLpro, and RdRp of SARS-CoV-2 using molecular docking and dynamic simulation studies.

A novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has caused a worldwide pandemic and remained a severe threat to the entire human population. Researchers worldwide are struggling to find an effective drug treatment to combat this deadly disease. Many FDA-approved drugs from varying inhibitory classes and plant-derived compounds are screened to combat this virus. Still, due to the lack of structural information and several mutations of this virus, initial drug discovery efforts have limited success. A high-resolution crystal structure of important proteins like the main protease (3CLpro) that are required for SARS-CoV-2 viral replication and polymerase (RdRp) and papain-like protease (PLpro) as a vital target in other coronaviruses still presents important targets for the drug discovery. With this knowledge, scaffold library of Interbioscreen (IBS) database was explored through molecular docking, MD simulation and postdynamic binding free energy studies. The 3D docking structures and simulation data for the IBS compounds was studied and articulated. The compounds were further evaluated for ADMET studies using QikProp and SwissADME tools. The results revealed that the natural compounds STOCK2N-00385, STOCK2N-00244, and STOCK2N-00331 interacted strongly with 3CLpro, PLpro, and RdRp, respectively, and ADMET data was also observed in the range of limits for almost all the compounds with few exceptions. Thus, it suggests that these compounds may be potential inhibitors of selected target proteins, or their structural scaffolds can be further optimized to obtain effective drug candidates for SARS-CoV-2. The findings of in-silico data need to be supported by in-vivo studies which could shed light on understanding the exact mode of inhibitory action.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Impact of exosome therapy on pancreatic cancer and its progression.

Pancreatic cancer, one of the most aggressive tumors, has a dismal prognosis because of the low rates of early identification, fast progression, difficulties following surgery, and the ineffectiveness of current oncologic therapies. There are no imaging techniques or biomarkers that can accurately identify, categorize, or predict the biological behavior of this tumor. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles that play a crucial rule in the progression, metastasis, and chemoresistance of pancreatic cancer. They have been verified to be potential biomarkers for pancreatic cancer management. Studying the role of exosomes in pancreatic cancer is substantial. Exosomes are secreted by most eukaryotic cells and participated in intercellular communication. The components of exosomes, including proteins, DNA, mRNA, microRNA, long non-coding RNA, circular RNA, etc., play a crucial role in regulating tumor growth, metastasis, and angiogenesis in the process of cancer development, and can be used as a prognostic marker and/or grading basis for tumor patients. Hereby, in this concise review, we intend to summarize exosomes components and isolation, exosome secretion, function, importance of exosomes in the progression of pancreatic cancer and exosomal miRNAs as possible pancreatic cancer biomarkers. Finally, the application potential of exosomes in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, which provides theoretical supports for using exosomes to serve precise tumor treatment in the clinic, will be discussed.