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Heparin is a negatively charged polysaccharide with various chain lengths and a hydrophilic backbone. Due to its fascinating chemical and physical properties, nontoxicity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability, heparin has been extensively used in different fields of medicine, such as cardiovascular and hematology. This review highlights recent and future advancements in designing materials based on heparin for various biomedical applications. The physicochemical and mechanical properties, biocompatibility, toxicity, and biodegradability of heparin are discussed. In addition, the applications of heparin-based materials in various biomedical fields, such as drug/gene delivery, tissue engineering, cancer therapy, and biosensors, are reviewed. Finally, challenges, opportunities, and future perspectives in preparing heparin-based materials are summarized.

Highlights Self-healing graphene- and MXene-based composites can be deployed in wearable sensors, supercapacitors, anticorrosive coatings, electromagnetic interference shielding, electronic-skin, and soft robotics. Self-healing graphene- and MXene-based composites have shown improved electrical conductivity, mechanical properties, healing efficacy, and energy conversion efficacy. Self-healing structures can open up considerable new horizons in the future of healthcare, sensors, electronics, robotics, supercapacitors/batteries, coatings, and biomedicine.

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare cancer arising in skeletal muscle that typically impacts children and young adults. It is a worldwide challenge in child health as treatment outcomes for metastatic and recurrent disease still pose a major concern for both basic and clinical scientists. The treatment strategies for rhabdomyosarcoma include multi-agent chemotherapies after surgical resection with or without ionization radiotherapy. In this comprehensive review, we first provide a detailed clinical understanding of rhabdomyosarcoma including its classification and subtypes, diagnosis, and treatment strategies. Later, we focus on chemotherapy strategies for this childhood sarcoma and discuss the impact of three mechanisms that are involved in the chemotherapy response including apoptosis, macro-autophagy, and the unfolded protein response. Finally, we discuss in vivo mouse and zebrafish models and in vitro three-dimensional bioengineering models of rhabdomyosarcoma to screen future therapeutic approaches and promote muscle regeneration.

Cancer remains an enduring challenge in modern society, prompting relentless pursuits to confront its complexities. However, resistance often emerges against conventional treatments, driven by their inherent limitations such as adverse effects and limited solubility. Herein, we spotlight a remarkable solution; a niosomal platform engineered to tandemly ferry two potent agents, doxorubicin (DOX) and curcumin (CUR). Notably, we delve into the pivotal role of PEGylation, unraveling its impact on therapeutic efficacy. These niosomes consist of Span 60, Tween 60, and cholesterol with a molar ratio of 5:2:3, which were prepared via a thin film hydration method. The physicochemical characterization of particles was performed using DLS, zeta potential measurement, SEM, and FTIR analysis. In addition, their encapsulation efficiency and release profile were determined using the HPLC method. Finally, their cytotoxicity and biocompatibility effects were checked by performing an MTT assay test on the MCF7 and L929 cell lines. The obtained results confirmed the successful fabrication of co-loaded niosomal structures with and without PEG coating. The fabricated nanoparticles had sizes in the range of 100 to 200 nm with a surface charge of about −18 mV for particles without PEG coating and −40 mV for coated particles. Notably, DOX encapsulation efficiency leaps from 20% to 62% in the transition from uncoated to coated, while CUR exhibits an impressive surge from 80% to 95%. The drug release was more controlled and slower in the coated sample. Finally, the MTT results confirmed the biocompatibility and synergistic effect of the simultaneous use of two drugs on cancer cells in the PEGylated niosomal particle. Based on the results, PEGylated niosomal particles can be considered adept vehicles for the simultaneous delivery of different chemotherapy cargoes with synergic interaction to overcome cancer.

Macroautophagy (hereafter autophagy), a tightly regulated physiological process that obliterates dysfunctional and damaged organelles and proteins, has a crucial role when biomaterials are applied for various purposes, including diagnosis, treatment, tissue engineering, and targeted drug delivery. The unparalleled physiochemical properties of nanomaterials make them a key component of medical strategies in different areas, such as osteogenesis, angiogenesis, neurodegenerative disease treatment, and cancer therapy. The application of implants and their modulatory effects on autophagy have been known in recent years. However, more studies are necessary to clarify the interactions and all the involved mechanisms. The advantages and disadvantages of nanomaterial-mediated autophagy need serious attention in both the biological and bioengineering fields. In this mini-review, the role of autophagy after biomaterial exploitation and the possible related mechanisms are explored.

Herbal chemicals with a long history in medicine have attracted a lot of attention. Flavonolignans and flavonoids are considered as two classes of the above-mentioned compounds with different functional groups which exhibit several therapeutic capabilities such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anticancer activities. Based on the studies, high hydrophobic properties of the aforementioned compounds limit their bioavailability inside the human body and restrict their wide application. Nanoscale formulations such as solid lipid nanoparticles, liposomes, and other types of lipid-based delivery systems have been introduced to overcome the above-mentioned challenges. This approach allows the aforementioned hydrophobic therapeutic compounds to be encapsulated between hydrophobic structures, resulting in improving their bioavailability. The above-mentioned enhanced delivery system improves delivery to the targeted sites and reduces the daily required dosage. Lowering the required daily dose improves the performance of the drug by diminishing its side effects on non-targeted tissues. The present study aims to highlight the recent improvements in implementing lipid-based nanocarriers to deliver flavonolignans and flavonoids.

Abstract Due to their interesting features including negligible volatility, ease of designing in the construction, good chemical, and thermal stability, and excellent ionic conductivity, ionic liquids (ILs) have attracted a lot of attention to themselves in recent years. They are constructed from asymmetric anions and cations and are found in a liquid state lower than 100°C. Their unique features introduce them as candidates for the application in the structure of different types of electrochemical biosensors, in which they could act as electrolytes, or could be used as detecting agents. According to these features, this review aims to present an overview of the application of ILs in the structure of electrochemical sensors and biosensors. Based on this, after a brief description of the ILs and biosensors, the application of ILs in the structure of some of the recent electrochemical biosensors has been discussed and then, remarks and perspectives on these types of biosensors are explained.

The American Cancer Society estimated around 61,090 new cases of leukemia were diagnosed, and around 23,660 people died from this disease in the United States alone in 2021. Due to its burden on society, there is an unmet need to explore innovative approaches to overcome leukemia. Among different strategies that have been explored, nanotechnology appears to be a promising and effective approach for therapeutics. Specifically, biogenic silver and gold nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted significant attention for their antineoplastic activity toward leukemia cancer cells due to their unique physicochemical properties. Indeed, these nanostructures have emerged as useful approaches in anti-leukemic applications, either as carriers to enhance drug bioavailability and its targeted delivery to a specific organ or as a novel therapeutic agent. This review explores recent advances in green synthesized nanomaterials and their potential use against leukemia, especially focusing on silver (Ag) and gold (Au) nanostructures. In detail, we have reviewed various eco-friendly methods of bio-synthesized NPs, their analytical properties, and toxicity effects against leukemic models. This overview confirms the satisfactory potency of biogenic NPs toward leukemic cells and desirable safety profiles against human native cells, which opens a promising door toward commercializing these types of nontherapeutic agents if challenges involve clinical validations, reproducibility, and scalability could be resolved.

The concentration of biomolecules in living systems shows numerous systematic and random variations. Systematic variations can be classified based on the frequency of variations as ultradian (24 h), which are partly predictable. Random biological variations are known as between-subject biological variations that are the variations among the set points of an analyte from different individuals and within-subject biological variation, which is the variation of the analyte around individuals’ set points. The random biological variation cannot be predicted but can be estimated using appropriate measurement and statistical procedures. Physiological rhythms and random biological variation of the analytes could be considered the essential elements of predictive, preventive, and particularly personalized laboratory medicine. This systematic review aims to summarize research that have been done about the types of physiological rhythms, biological variations, and their effects on laboratory tests. We have searched the PubMed and Web of Science databases for biological variation and physiological rhythm articles in English without time restrictions with the terms “Biological variation, Within-subject biological variation, Between-subject biological variation, Physiological rhythms, Ultradian rhythms, Circadian rhythm, Infradian rhythms”. It was concluded that, for effective management of predicting, preventing, and personalizing medicine, which is based on the safe and valid interpretation of patients’ laboratory test results, both physiological rhythms and biological variation of the measurands should be considered simultaneously.

Eyes are one of the main critical organs of the body that provide our brain with the most information about the surrounding environment. Disturbance in the activity of this informational organ, resulting from different ocular diseases, could affect the quality of life, so finding appropriate methods for treating ocular disease has attracted lots of attention. This is especially due to the ineffectiveness of the conventional therapeutic method to deliver drugs into the interior parts of the eye, and the also presence of barriers such as tear film, blood-ocular, and blood-retina barriers. Recently, some novel techniques, such as different types of contact lenses, micro and nanoneedles and in situ gels, have been introduced which can overcome the previously mentioned barriers. These novel techniques could enhance the bioavailability of therapeutic components inside the eyes, deliver them to the posterior side of the eyes, release them in a controlled manner, and reduce the side effects of previous methods (such as eye drops). Accordingly, this review paper aims to summarize some of the evidence on the effectiveness of these new techniques for treating ocular disease, their preclinical and clinical progression, current limitations, and future perspectives.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), as small regulatory RNA molecules, are involved in gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Hence, miRNAs contribute to gene regulation of various steps of different cell subsets’ differentiation, maturation, and activation. The adaptive immune system arm, which exhibits the most specific immune responses, is also modulated by miRNAs. The generation and maturation of various T-cell subsets concomitant with B-cells is under precise regulation of miRNAs which function directly on the hallmark genes of each cell subset or indirectly through regulation of signaling pathway mediators and/or transcription factors involved in this maturation journey. In this review, we first discussed the origination process of common lymphocyte progenitors from hematopoietic stem cells, which further differentiate into various T-cell subsets under strict regulation of miRNAs and transcription factors. Subsequently, the differentiation of B-cells from common lymphocyte progenitors in bone marrow and periphery were discussed in association with a network of miRNAs and transcription factors.

Changes in weather conditions and lifestyle lead to an annual increase in the amount of lung cancer, and therefore it is one of the three most common types of cancer, making it important to find an appropriate treatment method. This research aims to introduce a new smart nano-drug delivery system with antibacterial and anticancer capabilities that could be applied for the treatment of lung cancer. It is composed of a niosomal carrier containing curcumin as an anticancer drug and is coated with a chitosan polymeric shell, alongside Rose Bengal (RB) as a photosensitizer with an antibacterial feature. The characterization results confirmed the successful fabrication of lipid-polymeric carriers with a size of nearly 80 nm and encapsulation efficiency of about 97% and 98% for curcumin and RB, respectively. It had the Korsmeyer–Peppas release pattern model with pH and temperature responsivity so that nearly 60% and 35% of RB and curcumin were released at 37 °C and pH 5.5. Moreover, it showed nearly 50% toxicity against lung cancer cells over 72 h and antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli. Accordingly, this nanoformulation could be considered a candidate for the treatment of lung cancer; however, in vivo studies are needed for better confirmation.

Background: Increase in the number of peoples with cancer attract many researchers in the field of medical science to find a safe approach to treat it. The application of nanotechnology in this field is very promising, and has led to the design of nanosystems with the ability of simultaneous diagnose and therapy. Based on this, the aim of this project was the synthesis a system with functionality in multimodal diagnosis and therapy. Methods: Here, iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized through thermal decomposition method, and were covered by Au during five irritations using Lyon's method. Finally, cyclodextrins were attached, and then polymerized on the system. The successful preparation of the system was evaluated using different characterization tests. Findings: Results showed the prosperous preparation of iron oxide nanoparticles with 15 nm mean diameter which was coated with a gold cover that increased the size to 35 nm. Moreover, the presence of cyclodextrin on the surface of system was confirmed by analytical characterization tests. Conclusion: The nanosystem introduced in this project, due to the presence of iron oxide and Au nanoparticles, has the ability to be used in two diagnostic approaches, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scan. Moreover, the presence of cyclodextrin and iron oxide in its structure allows it to be used as a hydrophobic drug delivery system, as well as in photothermal therapy and hyperthermia.

Regeneration of the damaged neurons in neurological disorders and returning their activities are two of the main purposes of neuromedicine. Combination use of specific nanoformulations with a therapeutic compound could be a good candidate for neuroregeneration applications. Accordingly, this research aims to utilize the combination of curcumin, as a neurogenesis agent, with dextran-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) to evaluate their effects on PC12 cellsʹ neuronal branching morphogenesis in the absence of nerve growth factor. Therefore, the effects of each component alone and in combination form on the cytotoxicity, neurogenesis, and neural branching morphogenesis were evaluated using MTT assay, immunofluorescence staining, and inverted microscopy, respectively. Results confirmed the effectiveness of the biocompatible iron oxide nanoparticles (with a size of about 100 nm) in improving the percentage of neural branching (p < 0.01) in PC12 cells. In addition, the combination use of these nanoparticles with curcumin could enhance the effect of curcumin on neurogenesis (p < 0.01). These results suggest that SPIONs in combination with curcumin could act as an inducing factor on PC12 neurogenesis in the absence of nerve growth factor and could offer a novel therapeutic approach to the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Background: Mutations in spike glycoprotein, a critical protein of SARS-CoV-2, could directly impact pathogenicity and virulence. The D614G mutation, a non-synonymous mutation at position 614 of the spike glycoprotein, is a predominant variant circulating worldwide. This study investigated the occurrence of mutations in the crucial zone of the spike gene and the association of clinical symptoms with spike mutations in isolated viruses from Iranian patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 during the second and third waves of the COVID-19 epidemic in Isfahan, the third-largest city in Iran. Methods: The extracted RNA from 60 nasopharyngeal samples of COVID-19 patients were subjected to cDNA synthesis and RT-PCR (in three overlapping fragments). Each patient’s reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) products were assembled and sequenced. Information and clinical features of all sixty patients were collected, summarized, and analyzed using the GENMOD procedure of SAS 9.4. Results: Analysis of 60 assembled sequences identified nine nonsynonymous mutations. The D614G mutation has the highest frequency among the amino acid changes. In our study, in 31 patients (51.66%), D614G mutation was determined. For all the studied symptoms, no significant relationship was observed with the incidence of D614G mutation. Conclusions: D614G, a common mutation among several of the variants of SARS-CoV-2, had the highest frequency among the studied sequences and its frequency increased significantly in the samples of the third wave compared to the samples of the second wave of the disease.

One of the main challenges in wound healing is the wound infection due to various causes, of which moisture is the most important reason. Owing to this fact, wound dressings that can collect wound moisture in addition to showing antibacterial properties have provided an important basis for wound healing research. In this study, gelatin and poly lactic acid (PLA) polymers were used in a wound dressing textile to provide gelation and structure strength properties, respectively. Meanwhile, silver nanoparticles (SNPs) synthesized through the green method were integrated into these fibers to provide the formed textile with antibacterial properties. Nanoparticles were made using donkey dung extract, and nanofibers were produced by the solution blow spinning method which has high production efficiency and low energy consumption among spinning methods. The produced nanoparticles were characterized and evaluated by UV-Vis, DLS, XRD, and FTIR methods, and the production of silver nanoparticles that were coated with metabolites in the extract was proven. In addition, the morphology and diameter of the resulted fibers and presence of nanoparticles were confirmed by the SEM method. The size and size distribution of the synthesized fibers were determined through analyzing SEM results. Gelatin nanofibers demonstrated a mean size of 743 nm before and 773 nm after nanoparticle coating. PLA nanofibers demonstrated a mean size of 57 nm before and 182 nm after nanoparticle coating. Finally, 335 nm was the mean diameter size of gelatin/PLA/SNPs nanofibers. Also, the textiles synthesized by PLA and gelatin which contained silver nanoparticles showed higher antibacterial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative species compared to PLA and gelatin tissues without nanoparticles. Cytotoxicity test on L929 cells showed that silver nanoparticles incorporated textiles of PLA and gelatin show a very low level and non-significant toxicity compared to the free particles.

Infectious diseases are known as the second biggest cause of death worldwide, due to the development of antibiotic resistance. To overcome this problem, nanotechnology offers some promising approaches, such as drug delivery systems that can enhance drug efficiency. Herein, a Graphene Oxide-polyethylene glycol (GO-PEG) nano-platform was synthesized and penicillin and oxacillin, two antibiotics that are ineffective against Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), were loaded on it to improve their effectiveness. The nanocomposites were characterized using FTIR, XRD, UV–Vis, FE-SEM/EDX, and Zeta potential analyses, followed by an evaluation of their antibacterial activity toward MRSA. Based on the results, drug loaded GO-PEG nanocomposites with loading efficiencies of 81% and 92% for penicillin and oxacillin, respectively, were successfully synthesized. They showed a controlled release within six days. The zeta potential of GO-PEG-oxacillin and penicillin was −13 mV and −11 mV, respectively. The composites showed much more activity against MRSA (80–85% inhibition) in comparison to GO-PEG (almost 0% inhibition) and pure antibiotics (40–45% inhibition). SEM images of MRSA treated with GO-PEG-antibiotics showed a deformation in the structure of bacterial cells, which led to the collapse of their intracellular components. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of utilizing the GO-based nanoplatforms in enhancing the antibacterial activity of the antibiotics.

Glioblastoma (GBM) therapy has seen little change over the past two decades. Surgical excision followed by radiation and chemotherapy is the current gold standard treatment. Immunotherapy techniques have recently transformed many cancer treatments, and GBM is now at the forefront of immunotherapy research. GBM immunotherapy prospects are reviewed here, with an emphasis on immune checkpoint inhibitors and oncolytic viruses. Various forms of nanomaterials to enhance immunotherapy effectiveness are also discussed. For GBM treatment and immunotherapy, we outline the specific properties of nanomaterials. In addition, we provide a short overview of several 3D (bio)printing techniques and their applications in stimulating the GBM microenvironment. Lastly, the susceptibility of GBM cancer cells to the various immunotherapy methods will be addressed.

Abstract The oral cavity and oropharynx are complex environments that are susceptible to physical, chemical, and microbiological insults. They are also common sites for pathological and cancerous changes. The effectiveness of conventional locally‐administered medications against diseases affecting these oral milieus may be compromised by constant salivary flow. For systemically‐administered medications, drug resistance and adverse side‐effects are issues that need to be resolved. New strategies for drug delivery have been investigated over the last decade to overcome these obstacles. Synthesis of nanoparticle‐containing agents that promote healing represents a quantum leap in ensuring safe, efficient drug delivery to the affected tissues. Micro/nanoencapsulants with unique structures and properties function as more favorable drug‐release platforms than conventional treatment approaches. The present review provides an overview of newly‐developed nanocarriers and discusses their potential applications and limitations in various fields of dentistry and oral medicine.

Over the past few decades, gold nanomaterials have shown great promise in the field of nanotechnology, especially in medical and biological applications. They have become the most used nanomaterials in those fields due to their several advantageous. However, rod-shaped gold nanoparticles, or gold nanorods (GNRs), have some more unique physical, optical, and chemical properties, making them proper candidates for biomedical applications including drug/gene delivery, photothermal/photodynamic therapy, and theranostics. Most of their therapeutic applications are based on their ability for tunable heat generation upon exposure to near-infrared (NIR) radiation, which is helpful in both NIR-responsive cargo delivery and photothermal/photodynamic therapies. In this review, a comprehensive insight into the properties, synthesis methods and toxicity of gold nanorods are overviewed first. For the main body of the review, the therapeutic applications of GNRs are provided in four main sections: (i) drug delivery, (ii) gene delivery, (iii) photothermal/photodynamic therapy, and (iv) theranostics applications. Finally, the challenges and future perspectives of their therapeutic application are discussed.

Nanozymes, a type of nanomaterial with enzyme-like properties, are a promising alternative to natural enzymes. In particular, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs, with the general formula MX2, where M represents a transition metal and X is a chalcogen element)-based nanozymes have demonstrated exceptional potential in the healthcare and diagnostic sectors. TMDCs have different enzymatic properties due to their unique nano-architecture, high surface area, and semiconducting properties with tunable band gaps. Furthermore, the compatibility of TMDCs with various chemical or physical modification strategies provide a simple and scalable way to engineer and control their enzymatic activity. Here, we discuss recent advances made with TMDC-based nanozymes for biosensing and therapeutic applications. We also discuss their synthesis strategies, various enzymatic properties, current challenges, and the outlook for future developments in this field.

''Black Peel Pomegranate'' is a rare pomegranate cultivar that its specific features are still uncovered particularly in the bio-nano researches. The present study was organized to evaluate this pomegranate's potential in the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles as well as bio-medical activities. According to the results, the pomegranate peel extract incredibly inhibited 100 % of DPPH free radicals (EC50 = 5 μg/mL). This extract also induced more than 70 % cell death in the treated breast tumor cell lines, BT-20 and MCF-7. Interestingly, the extract was capable of biosynthesis very stable and small (15.6 nm) silver nanoparticles at ambient temperature in an ultra-fast pace. Likewise, these nanoparticles inhibited 77 % of DPPH free radicals (EC50 = 9 μg/mL). Although this antioxidant capacity was lower than that of the extract, instead, the anticancer activity of the synthesized nanoparticles was significantly enhanced, so that they led to more than 81 % and 89 % cell death in the breast tumor cell lines BT-20 and MCF-7, respectively. Considerably, neither the extract nor the biosynthesized silver nanoparticles, showed significant toxicity against non-tumor cell lines (L-929) at the same concentrations. These features of the biosynthesized nanoparticles were quite outstanding in comparison with chemical/commercial ones. Overall, the present study introduces black peel pomegranate as a worthy bio-agent in the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles with unique activities as well as a cancer treatment. Keywords: Black peel pomegranate, Green synthesis, Selective cytotoxicity, Antioxidant agents, Anticancer agents

Spinal cord injury (SCI) has a major impact on affected patients due to its pathological consequences and absence of capacity for self-repair. Currently available therapies are unable to restore lost neural functions. Thus, there is a pressing need to develop novel treatments that will promote functional repair after SCI. Several experimental approaches have been explored to tackle SCI, including the combination of stem cells and 3D bioprinting. Implanted multipotent stem cells with self-renewing capacity and the ability to differentiate to a diversity of cell types are promising candidates for replacing dead cells in injured sites and restoring disrupted neural circuits. However, implanted stem cells need protection from the inflammatory agents in the injured area and support to guide them to appropriate differentiation. Not only are 3D bioprinted scaffolds able to protect stem cells, but they can also promote their differentiation and functional integration at the site of injury. In this review, we showcase some recent advances in the use of stem cells for the treatment of SCI, different types of 3D bioprinting methods, and the combined application of stem cells and 3D bioprinting technique for effective repair of SCI.

The innovation of drug delivery vehicles with controlled properties for cancer therapy is the aim of most pharmaceutical research. This study aims to fabricate a new type of smart biocompatible stealth-nanoliposome to deliver curcumin for cancer treatment. Herein, four different types of liposomes (with/without pH-responsive polymeric coating) were synthesized via the Mozafari method and then characterized with several tests, including dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Zeta potential, and field emission scanning electron microscopes (FE-S EM). The loading and release profile of curcumin were evaluated in two pH of 7.4 and 6.6. Finally, the MTT assay was used to assess the cytotoxicity of the samples. FE-SEM results revealed a mean size of about 40 and 50 nm for smart stealth-liposome and liposome, respectively. The results of drug entrapment revealed that non-coated liposome had about 74% entrapment efficiency, while it was about 84% for PEGylated liposomes. Furthermore, the drug released pattern of the nanocarriers showed more controllable release in stealth-liposome in comparison to non-coated one. The results of the cytotoxicity test demonstrated the toxicity of drug-loaded carriers on cancer cells. Based on the results of this study, the as-prepared smart stealth pH-responsive nanoliposome could be considered as a potential candidate for cancer therapy.

Naringenin (NRG) is a polyphenolic phytochemical belonging to the class of flavanones and is widely distributed in citrus fruits and some other fruits such as bergamot, tomatoes, cocoa, and cherries. NRG presents several interesting pharmacological properties, such as anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the therapeutic potential of NRG is hampered due to its hydrophobic nature, which leads to poor bioavailability. Here, we review a wide range of nanocarriers that have been used as delivery systems for NRG, including polymeric nanoparticles, micelles, liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), nanosuspensions, and nanoemulsions. These nanomedicine formulations of NRG have been applied as a potential treatment for several diseases, using a wide range of in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo models and different routes of administration. From this review, it can be concluded that NRG is a potential therapeutic option for the treatment of various diseases such as cancer, neurological disorders, liver diseases, ocular disorders, inflammatory diseases, skin diseases, and diabetes when formulated in the appropriate nanocarriers.

In recent years, the intrinsic magnetic properties of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have made them one of the most promising candidates for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This study aims to evaluate the effect of different coating agents (with and without targeting agents) on the magnetic property of MNPs. In detail, iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) were prepared by the polyol method. The nanoparticles were then divided into two groups, one of which was coated with silica (SiO2) and hyperbranched polyglycerol (HPG) (SPION@SiO2@HPG); the other was covered by HPG alone (SPION@HPG). In the following section, folic acid (FA), as a targeting agent, was attached on the surface of nanoparticles. Physicochemical properties of nanostructures were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). TEM results showed that SPION@HPG was monodispersed with the average size of about 20 nm, while SPION@SiO2@HPG had a size of about 25 nm. Moreover, HPG coated nanoparticles had much lower magnetic saturation than the silica coated ones. The MR signal intensity of the nanostructures showed a relation between increasing the nanoparticle concentrations inside the MCF-7 cells and decreasing the signal related to the T2 relaxation time. The comparison of coating showed that SPION@SiO2@HPG (with/without a targeting agent) had significantly higher r2 value in comparison to Fe3O4@HPG. Based on the results of this study, the Fe3O4@SiO2@HPG-FA nanoparticles have shown the best magnetic properties, and can be considered promising contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging applications.

Prostate cancer (PCa) accounts for a high number of deaths in males with no available curative treatments. Patients with PCa are commonly diagnosed in advanced stages due to the lack of symptoms in the early stages. Recently, the research focus was directed toward gene editing in cancer therapy. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) intervention is considered as a powerful tool for gene silencing (knockdown), enabling the suppression of oncogene factors in cancer. This strategy is applied to the treatment of various cancers including PCa. The siRNA can inhibit proliferation and invasion of PCa cells and is able to promote the anti-tumor activity of chemotherapeutic agents. However, the off-target effects of siRNA therapy remarkably reduce its efficacy in PCa therapy. To date, various carriers were designed to improve the delivery of siRNA and, among them, nanoparticles are of importance. Nanoparticles enable the targeted delivery of siRNAs and enhance their potential in the downregulation of target genes of interest. Additionally, nanoparticles can provide a platform for the co-delivery of siRNAs and anti-tumor drugs, resulting in decreased growth and migration of PCa cells. The efficacy, specificity, and delivery of siRNAs are comprehensively discussed in this review to direct further studies toward using siRNAs and their nanoscale-delivery systems in PCa therapy and perhaps other cancer types.