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The chemical constituents of the Cannabis plant known as cannabinoids have been extensively researched for their potential therapeutic benefits. The use of cannabinoids applied to the skin as a potential method for both skin-related benefits and systemic administration has attracted increasing interest in recent years. This review aims to present an overview of the most recent scientific research on cannabinoids used topically, including their potential advantages for treating a number of skin conditions like psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and acne. Additionally, with a focus on the pharmacokinetics and security of this route of administration, we investigate the potential of the transdermal delivery of cannabinoids as a method of systemic administration. The review also discusses the restrictions and difficulties related to the application of cannabinoids on the skin, emphasizing the potential of topical cannabinoids as a promising route for both localized and systemic administration. More studies are required to fully comprehend the efficacy and safety of cannabinoids in various settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Mn-based LDH with Mn2+ and Mn3+ mixture was obtained under ambient conditions. • Uncovered OH groups surrounding Mn were favorable for proton/water exchange. • Improved r 1 relaxivity as compared with alike Mn-based contrast agents was obtained. Manganese-based 2D nanoparticles with increased longitudinal relaxivity (r 1) in MRI were synthesised by co-precipitation at low suprasaturation. The results of physico-chemical characterizations, i.e., XRD, FT-IR, DR UV–vis, N 2 physisorption, and SEM, showed an excellent 2D nanomaterial in which manganese is predominantly incorporated as Mn2+ and Mn3+. The r 1 relaxivity obtained on a 1.0 Tesla apparatus at pH = 7.4 is significantly improved (r 1 = 1.298 mM−1 s−1) as compared with other similar layered materials containing manganese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite decades of rigorous research and numerous clinical trials, Alzheimer's disease (AD) stands as a notable healthcare challenge of this century, with effective therapeutic solutions remaining elusive. Recently, the endocannabinoid system (ECS) has emerged as an essential therapeutic target due to its regulatory role in different physiological processes, such as neuroprotection, modulation of inflammation, and synaptic plasticity. This aligns with previous research showing that cannabinoid receptor ligands have the potential to trigger the functional structure of neuronal and brain networks, potentially impacting memory processing. Therefore, our study aims to assess the effects of prolonged, intermittent exposure (over 90 days) to JWH-133 (0.2 mg/kg) and an EU-GMP certified Cannabis sativa L. (Cannabixir® Medium Flos, 2.5 mg/kg) on recognition memory, as well as their influence on brain metabolism and modulation of the expanded endocannabinoid system in APP/PS1 mice. Chronic therapy with cannabinoid receptor ligands resulted in reduced anxiety-like behavior and partially reversed the cognitive deficits. Additionally, a reduction was observed in both the number and size of Aβ plaque deposits, along with decreased cerebral glucose metabolism, as well as a decline in the expression of mTOR and CB2 receptors. Furthermore, the study revealed enlarged astrocytes and enhanced expression of M1 mAChR in mice subjected to cannabinoid treatment. Our findings highlight the pivotal involvement of the extended endocannabinoid system in cognitive decline and pathological aspects associated with AD, presenting essential preclinical evidence to support the continued exploration and assessment of cannabinoid receptor ligands for AD treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic neuropathic pain (CNP) affects around 10% of the general population and has a significant social, emotional, and economic impact. Current diagnosis techniques rely mainly on patient-reported outcomes and symptoms, which leads to significant diagnostic heterogeneity and subsequent challenges in management and assessment of outcomes. As such, it is necessary to review the approach to a pathology that occurs so frequently, with such burdensome and complex implications. Recent research has shown that imaging methods can detect subtle neuroplastic changes in the central and peripheral nervous system, which can be correlated with neuropathic symptoms and may serve as potential markers. The aim of this paper is to review available imaging methods used for diagnosing and assessing therapeutic efficacy in CNP for both the preclinical and clinical setting. Of course, further research is required to standardize and improve detection accuracy, but available data indicate that imaging is a valuable tool that can impact the management of CNP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is a progressive inflammatory disorder characterized by extracellular matrix remodeling and valvular interstitial cells (VIC) osteodifferentiation leading to valve leaflets calcification and impairment movement. Runx2, the master transcription factor involved in VIC osteodifferentiation, modulates the expression of other osteogenic molecules. Previously, we have demonstrated that the osteoblastic phenotypic shift of cultured VIC is impeded by Runx2 silencing using fullerene (C60)-polyethyleneimine (PEI)/short hairpin (sh)RNA-Runx2 (shRunx2) polyplexes. Since the use of polyplexes for in vivo delivery is limited by their instability in the plasma and the non-specific tissue interactions, we designed and obtained targeted, lipid-enveloped polyplexes (lipopolyplexes) suitable for (1) systemic administration and (2) targeted delivery of shRunx2 to osteoblast-differentiated VIC (oVIC). Vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 expressed on the surface of oVIC was used as a target, and a peptide with high affinity for VCAM-1 was coupled to the surface of lipopolyplexes encapsulating C60-PEI/shRunx2 (V-LPP/shRunx2). We report here that V-LPP/shRunx2 lipopolyplexes are cyto- and hemo-compatible and specifically taken up by oVIC. These lipopolyplexes are functional as they downregulate the Runx2 gene and protein expression, and their uptake leads to a significant decrease in the expression of osteogenic molecules (OSP, BSP, BMP-2). These results identify V-LPP/shRunx2 as a new, appropriately directed vehicle that could be instrumental in developing novel strategies for blocking the progression of CAVD using a targeted nanomedicine approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is a progressive disorder that increases in prevalence with age. An important role in aortic valve calcification is played by valvular interstitial cells (VIC), that with age or in pathological conditions acquire an osteoblast-like phenotype that advances the disease. Therefore, pharmacological interventions aiming to stop or reverse the osteoblastic transition of VIC may represent a therapeutic option for CAVD. In this study, we aimed at developing a nanotherapeutic strategy able to prevent the phenotypic switch of human aortic VIC into osteoblast-like cells. We hypothesize that nanocarriers designed for silencing the Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) will stop the progress or reverse the osteodifferentiation of human VIC, induced by high glucose concentrations and pro-osteogenic factors. We report here the potential of fullerene (C60)-polyethyleneimine (PEI)/short hairpin (sh)RNA-Runx2 nano-polyplexes to efficiently down-regulate Runx2 mRNA and protein expression leading subsequently to a significant reduction in the expression of osteogenic proteins (i.e., ALP, BSP, OSP and BMP4) in osteoblast-committed VIC. The data suggest that the silencing of Runx2 could represent a novel strategy to impede the osteoblastic phenotypic shift of VIC and the ensuing progress of CAVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viral infections are a major global health problem, representing a significant cause of mortality with an unfavorable continuously amplified socio-economic impact. The increased drug resistance and constant viral replication have been the trigger for important studies regarding the use of nanotechnology in antiviral therapies. Nanomaterials offer unique physico-chemical properties that have linked benefits for drug delivery as ideal tools for viral treatment. Currently, different types of nanomaterials namely nanoparticles, liposomes, nanospheres, nanogels, nanosuspensions and nanoemulsions were studied either in vitro or in vivo for drug delivery of antiviral agents with prospects to be translated in clinical practice. This review highlights the drug delivery nanosystems incorporating the major antiviral classes and their transport across specific barriers at cellular and intracellular level. Important reflections on nanomedicines currently approved or undergoing investigations for the treatment of viral infections are also discussed. Finally, the authors present an overview on the requirements for the design of antiviral nanotherapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last two decades, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopies turn out to be valuable tools, capable of providing fingerprint-type information on the composition and structural conformation of specific molecular species. Vibrational spectroscopy's multiple features, namely highly sensitive to changes at the molecular level, noninvasive, nondestructive, reagent-free, and waste-free analysis, illustrate the potential in biomedical field. In light of this, the current work features recent data and major trends in spectroscopic analyses going from in vivo measurements up to ex vivo extracted and processed materials. The ability to offer insights into the structural variations underpinning pathogenesis of diseases could provide a platform for disease diagnosis and therapy effectiveness evaluation as a future standard clinical tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]