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Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common hepatic disease. It is rapidly emerging as the frequent cause for liver transplantation with the risk of disease recurrence, even after transplantation. Clinical evidence showed an abnormally altered expression of different peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor (PPAR) isotypes (PPAR‐α/γ/δ) in NAFLD with an involvement in the induction of insulin resistance, hepatic steatosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, and hepatic inflammation. Recently, several dual PPAR‐γ/α agonists were developed to simultaneously achieve the insulin‐sensitizing effect of PPAR‐γ as well as lipid catabolizing effect of PPAR‐α. PPAR‐α activation could counterbalance the steatogenic and adipogenic effects of PPAR‐γ. But most of the drugs were ended in the initial level itself due to harmful adverse effects. In the present review, we discuss the possible mechanism of telmisartan, a typical angiotensin receptor blocker with excellent safety and pharmacokinetic profile, as a PPAR‐γ/α dual agonist in the treatment of NAFLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curcumin, a well-known bioactive component, has profound effects against colon cancer. However, the limitations are poor systemic absorption, off-target distribution, chemical instability, short half-life, and less concentration reaching tumor tissues. Several drug delivery systems have been evaluated so far to deliver effective concentrations of curcumin to the malignant tissues. This review aims to explore the role of smart polymers in overcoming limitations in curcumin delivery against colon cancer. Literature of the past 10 years was collected from Scopus, PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar, and Science Direct using specific keywords. Several preclinical and clinical studies of curcumin against colon cancer with the inclusion of smart polymers were screened using keywords like "FDA-approved biomaterials," "stimuli-responsive polymer," "smart biomaterial," and so forth. Smart polymer phrase is used to describe all the mentioned polymers in the manuscript. Stimuli-responsive polymers, including poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA), polyethylene glycol (PEG), Eudragit, cyclodextrin, and chitosan, have emerged as promising candidates for curcumin delivery against colon cancer. These polymers facilitate controlled drug release in response to stimuli such as temperature, pH, and enzymes, while offering biocompatibility, biodegradability, and safety. The five selected FDA-approved smart polymers exhibit the potential for enhancing curcumin delivery against colon cancer., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objectives: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common type of cancer and accounts for ~90% of cases, with an approximated incidence of >1 million cases by 2025. Currently, the backbone of HCC therapy is the oral multi-kinase inhibitor, Sorafenib, which consists of a Pyridine heterocycle ring system. This review highlights the introspective characteristics of seven anticancer drugs of heterocyclic nature against HCC along with their structural activity relationships and molecular targets., Methods: Literature collection was performed using PubMed, Google Scholar, SCOPUS, and Cross ref. Additional information was taken from the official website of the FDA and GLOBOCAN. Key findings/ Results: Based on the available literature, approved heterocyclic compounds show promising results against HCC, including Sorafenib (Pyridine), Regorafenib (Pyridine), Lenvatinib (Quinoline), Cabozantinib (Quinoline), Gemcitabine (Pyrimidine), 5-Fluorouracil (Pyrimidine)and Capecitabine (Pyrimidine), their mechanism of action and key aspects regarding its structural activity were included in the review., Conclusion: Heterocyclic compounds represent almost two-thirds of the novel drugs approved by FDA between 2010 and 2020 against Cancer. This review summarizes the clinical relevance, mechanism of action, structural activity relationship, and challenges of the seven available anticancer drugs with heterocyclic ring systems against HCC., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Green nanotechnology can offer notable advantages over the conventional drug delivery methods in terms of improved drug stability, drug-carrying capacity, site-specificity, and feasibility to apply different routes of administration with less systemic toxicities. Metal nanoparticles bio fabricated with phytoconstituents and microbial extracts have gained significant interest for the treatment of various solid tumors including hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive cancer with a very poor prognosis. The current treatments of HCC fails to provide tumor specificity, causing many systemic toxicities and poor overall survival benefits especially for patients in advanced and terminal stages. A novel therapeutic approach with maximal therapeutic effect and minimum adverse effects are urgently required for HCC patients. Green synthesized metal nanoparticles offer significant anticancer effects along with minimal systemic toxicities because of their site-specific delivery into the tumor microenvironment (TME). Green synthesized metal nanoparticles can therefore be a highly beneficial strategy for the treatment of HCC if properly validated with preclinical and clinical studies. This review focuses on the preclinical evidence of the most widely studied green metal nanoparticles such as green synthesized silver nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles and selenium nanoparticles. We have also summarised the clinical studies and the patents approved for nanoparticles against HCC., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Mucin 1 (MUC 1) is a highly glycosylated tumor-associated antigen (TAA) overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This protein plays a critical role in various immune-mediated signaling pathways at its transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels, leading to immune evasion and metastasis in HCC. HCC cells maintain an immune-suppressive environment with the help of immunesuppressive tumor-associated antigens, resulting in a metastatic spread of the disease. The development of intense immunotherapeutic strategies to target tumor-associated antigen is critical to overcoming the progression of HCC. MUC 1 remains the most recognized tumor-associated antigen since its discovery over 30 years ago. A few promising immunotherapies targeting MUC 1 are currently under clinical trials, including CAR-T and CAR-pNK-mediated therapies. This review highlights the biosynthesis, significance, and clinical implication of MUC 1 as an immune target in HCC., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)