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Over the last decades, the vast chemical and biodiversity of marine environment has been identified as an important source of new anticancer drugs. The evolution of marine life is a result of competition among microorganisms for space and nutrients in the marine environment, which drives marine microorganisms to generate diverse enzyme systems with unique properties to adapt to harsh conditions of ocean. Therefore, marine-derived sources offer novel enzymes endowed with extraordinary properties. Recent advances in cancer therapy have facilitated enzyme therapy as a promising tool. But, the available information on the use of enzymes derived from marine sources as therapeutic agents for cancer therapy is scanty. The potential utility of marine enzymes in cancer therapy will be discussed in this chapter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genistein, an isoflavone, has been demonstrated to promote the health of human beings by reducing the incidence of specific chronic diseases, namely, cancer and atherosclerosis. The present investigation explores a novel method of extraction of genistein from soy source which consists of a bioconversion reaction using fermentation by microorganism namely Streptomyces roseolus NRRL B-5424. In situ bioconversion of genistein glycoside to aglycone was carried out by the microbe. Such methodology has not been reported hitherto. Optimization of upstream and downstream parameters was done for maximum extraction of genistein. Genistein was isolated in a powder form by column chromatography and preparative thin layer chromatography and was characterized using mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopy and its purity determined using high performance liquid chromatography. Genistein was extracted with 91.04% purity and extraction efficiency was 67.01%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rashmi H Prabhu,1 Vandana B Patravale,1 Medha D Joshi2 1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, India; 2Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chicago College of Pharmacy, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL, USA Abstract: Chemotherapy, a major strategy for cancer treatment, lacks the specificity to localize the cancer therapeutics in the tumor site, thereby affecting normal healthy tissues and advocating toxic adverse effects. Nanotechnological intervention has greatly revolutionized the therapy of cancer by surmounting the current limitations in conventional chemotherapy, which include undesirable biodistribution, cancer cell drug resistance, and severe systemic side effects. Nanoparticles (NPs) achieve preferential accumulation in the tumor site by virtue of their passive and ligand-based targeting mechanisms. Polymer-based nanomedicine, an arena that entails the use of polymeric NPs, polymer micelles, dendrimers, polymersomes, polyplexes, polymer–lipid hybrid systems, and polymer–drug/protein conjugates for improvement in efficacy of cancer therapeutics, has been widely explored. The broad scope for chemically modifying the polymer into desired construct makes it a versatile delivery system. Several polymer-based therapeutic NPs have been approved for clinical use. This review provides an insight into the advances in polymer-based targeted nanocarriers with focus on therapeutic aspects in the field of oncology. Keywords: polymeric nanoparticles, cancer, passive delivery, ligand-based delivery

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the chief causes of infertility in women of reproductive age. Several drugs belonging to the oral contraceptive class have been approved for the treatment of PCOS. Nonetheless, the capability to target only a few symptoms of PCOS and fatal side effects are key hurdles to their use. Therefore, repurposing existing drugs can be promising in managing PCOS efficiently. Drugs from different pharmacological classes like antidiabetics (metformin, rosiglitazone, pioglitazone, and semaglutide), statins (simvastatin and atorvastatin), antiandrogen drugs (finasteride and flutamide), etc. demonstrated significant potential in managing PCOS. The present review offers a comprehensive overview of all the medications examined as potential repurposed options for the efficient treatment of PCOS. The pathogenesis of PCOS, existing therapies for PCOS and their challenges, drug repurposing and its significance is also explained. The small-molecular drugs from various pharmacological classes and different phytoceuticals repurposed against PCOS are discussed along with their anti-PCOS activity mechanisms. Moreover, novel drug targets responsible for PCOS and opportunities for drug repurposing are briefed. The repurposed drugs in clinical trials for PCOS and drug repurposing challenges are discussed. Thus, drug repurposing can serve as a potential way to effectively treat PCOS, reducing the extent of infertility and improving the quality of life of women., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Skin cancer remains one of the most prominent types of cancer. Melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer are commonly found together, with melanoma being the more deadly type. Skin cancer can be effectively treated with chemotherapy, which mostly uses small molecular medicines, phytoceuticals, and biomacromolecules. Topical delivery of these therapeutics is a non-invasive way that might be useful in effectively managing skin cancer. Different skin barriers, however, presented a major obstacle to topical cargo administration. Transferosomes have demonstrated significant potential in topical delivery by improving cargo penetration through the circumvention of diverse skin barriers. Additionally, the transferosome-based gel can prolong the residence of drug on the skin, lowering the frequency of doses and their associated side effects. However, the choice of appropriate transferosome compositions, such as phospholipids and edge activators, and fabrication technique are crucial for achieving improved entrapment efficiency, penetration, and regulated particle size. The present review discusses skin cancer overview, current treatment strategies for skin cancer and their drawbacks. Topical drug delivery against skin cancer is also covered, along with the difficulties associated with it and the importance of transferosomes in avoiding these difficulties. Additionally, a summary of transferosome compositions and fabrication methods is provided. Furthermore, topical delivery of small molecular drugs, phytoceuticals, and biomacromolecules using transferosomes and transferosomes-based gel in treating skin cancer is discussed. Thus, transferosomes can be a significant option in the topical delivery of drugs to manage skin cancer efficiently., (© 2024. Controlled Release Society.)

Lung cancer is among leading causes of death worldwide. The five-year survival rate of this disease is extremely low (17.8 %), mainly due to difficult early diagnosis and to the limited efficacy of currently available chemotherapeutics. This underlines the necessity to develop innovative therapies for lung cancer. In this context, drug repurposing represents a viable approach, as it reduces the turnaround time of drug development removing costs associated to safety testing of new molecular entities. Ribavirin, an antiviral molecule used to treat hepatitis C virus infections, is particularly promising as repurposed drug for cancer treatment, having shown therapeutic activity against glioblastoma, acute myeloid leukemia, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. In the present study, we thoroughly investigated the in vitro anticancer activity of ribavirin against A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells. From a functional standpoint, ribavirin significantly inhibits cancer hallmarks such as cell proliferation, migration, and colony formation. Mechanistically, ribavirin downregulates the expression of numerous proteins and genes regulating cell migration, proliferation, apoptosis, and cancer angiogenesis. The anticancer potential of ribavirin was further investigated in silico through gene ontology pathway enrichment and protein-protein interaction networks, identifying five putative molecular interactors of ribavirin (Erb-B2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinase 4 (Erb-B4); KRAS; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (ICAM-1); amphiregulin (AREG); and neuregulin-1 (NRG1)). These interactions were characterized via molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulations. The results of this study highlight the potential of ribavirin as a repurposed chemotherapy against lung cancer, warranting further studies to ascertain the in vivo anticancer activity of this molecule., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors of the manuscript “Computational and Biological Approaches in Repurposing Ribavirin for Lung Cancer Treatment: Unveiling Antitumorigenic Strategies”, submitted to the journal “Life Sciences”, have no conflict of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Nanoparticulate drug delivery systems (NDDS) based nanoformulations have emerged as promising drug delivery systems. Various NDDS-based formulations have been reported such as polymeric nanoparticles (NPs), nanoliposomes, solid lipid NPs, nanocapsules, liposomes, self-nano emulsifying drug delivery systems, pro liposomes, nanospheres, microemulsion, nanoemulsion, gold NPs, silver NPs and nanostructured lipid carrier. They have shown numerous advantages such as enhanced bioavailability, aqueous solubility, permeability, controlled release profile, and blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability. This advantage of NDDS can help to deliver pure drugs to the target site. However, the formulation of nanoparticles is a complex process that requires optimization to ensure product quality and efficacy. Quality by Design (QbD) is a systemic approach that has been implemented in the pharmaceutical industry to improve the quality and reliability of drug products. QbD involves the optimization of different parameters like zeta potential (ZP), particle size (PS), entrapment efficiency (EE), polydispersity index (PDI), and drug release using statistical experimental design. The present article discussed the detailed role of QbD in optimizing nanoformulations and their advantages, advancement, and applications from the industrial perspective. Various case studies of QbD in the optimization of nanoformulations are also discussed., (© 2024. Controlled Release Society.)

In the pursuit of achieving better therapeutic outcomes in the treatment of HIV, innovative drug delivery strategies have been extensively explored. Mannose receptors, which are primarily found on macrophages and dendritic cells, offer promising targets for drug delivery due to their involvement in HIV pathogenesis. This review article comprehensively evaluates recent drug delivery system advancements targeting the mannose receptor. We have systematically described recent developments in creating and utilizing drug delivery platforms, including nanoparticles, liposomes, micelles, noisomes, dendrimers, and other nanocarrier systems targeted at the mannose receptor. These strategies aim to enhance drug delivery specificity, bioavailability, and therapeutic efficacy while decreasing off-target effects and systemic toxicity. Furthermore, the article delves into how mannose receptors and HIV interact, highlighting the potential for exploiting this interaction to enhance drug delivery to infected cells. The review covers essential topics, such as the rational design of nanocarriers for mannose receptor recognition, the impact of physicochemical properties on drug delivery performance, and how targeted delivery affects the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of anti-HIV agents. The challenges of these novel strategies, including immunogenicity, stability, and scalability, and future research directions in this rapidly growing area are discussed. The knowledge synthesis presented in this review underscores the potential of mannose receptor-based targeted drug delivery as a promising avenue for advancing HIV treatment. By leveraging the unique properties of mannose receptors, researchers can design drug delivery systems that cater to individual needs, overcome existing limitations, and create more effective and patient-friendly treatments in the ongoing fight against HIV/AIDS., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The majority of research on nanomaterials has been concentrated on metal nanoparticles since they are easily made and manipulated. Nanomaterials have shown a wide range of applications in biology. Nevertheless, their bioactivity declines due to their extreme susceptibility to and novel Se@ZIF-8 by chemical method. The sizes and morphologies of Se (0) and Se@ZIFchemical and physical stimuli. The goal of encapsulating these nanomaterials in a matrix is gradually being pursued, which boosts their affordability, stability, and usability. Metal-organic frameworks, often known as MOFs, have the potential to be the best platforms for encapsulating metal nanoparticles due to their well-defined frameworks, persistent porosity, and flexibility in modification. In this investigation, we report the synthesis and optimization of polyvinylpyrrolidone-stabilized Se(0) nanoparticles -8 were affected by the ratios of Se/Zn 2+ and [hmim]/Zn 2+ used. The optimized Se@ZIF-8 nanoparticles exhibited a particle size and zeta potential of 319 nm and -34 mv respectively. Transmission electron microscopy displayed spherical morphology for Se(0) nanoparticles, whereas the surface morphology of novel Se@ZIF-8 nanoparticles was drastically changed to hexagonal shaped structures with smooth surface morphologies in scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The DTA, TG/DTG, XRD analysis confirmed the presence of novel Se incorporated ZIF-8 nanoparticulate framework. The synthesized novel Se@ZIF-8 nanoparticles showed efficient antibacterial activity as evidenced by low MIC values. Interestingly, these Se@ZIF-8 NPs not only inhibited biofilm formation in S. marcescens, but also effectively eradicated mature biofilms by degrading the eDNA of the EPS layer. It was validated by confocal laser scanning microscopy and SEM analysis. It was observed that Se@ZIF-8 targeted the Quroum Sensing pathway and reduced its associated virulence factors production. This work opens up a different approach of Se@ZIF-8 nanoparticles as novel antibiotics to treat biofilm-associated infections caused by S. marcescens and offer a solution for antimicrobial resistance., (© 2024 IOP Publishing Ltd.)

The goal of this study was to formulate tacrolimus nanogel based on nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) in order to improve the efficacy, aesthetic, and patient compliance for the treatment of psoriasis. The microemulsion method was used to create phase diagrams and NLCs were prepared using points obtained from the microemulsion region and characterized. The gelling agent carbopol was used to develop an NLC-based nanogel. The pH, drug assay, viscosity, spreadability, and in vitro release of the nanogel, were evaluated. Ex vivo cytotoxicity of the formulation was assessed in murine fibroblast cells. Oxazolone and imiquimod models of psoriasis were used to assess the effectiveness of the nanogel. The NLCs exhibited a submicron particle size of 320 ± 10 nm, a low polydispersity index (<0.3), and a zeta potential of -19.4 mV. Morphological analysis revealed spherical nanoparticles with an encapsulation efficiency of 60 ± 3 %. The nanogel maintained a pH of 6.0 ± 0.5 and possessed a remarkable drug content of 99.73 ± 1.4 %. It exhibited pseudoplastic flow behaviour, ensuring easy spreadability, and demonstrated sustained drug release exceeding 90 % over a 24-hr period. Ex vivo cytotoxicity assessments revealed that the nanogel was safe because no cell death was induced. Nanogel resolved psoriatic blisters, was non-irritating and improved skin elasticity. The favorable properties, safety profile, and remarkable efficacy show the potential of the nanogel as a patient-friendly and effective therapeutic option for psoriasis treatment., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a significant factor contributing to serious vision loss in adults above 50. The presence of posterior segment barriers serves as chief roadblocks in the delivery of drugs to treat AMD. The conventional treatment strategies use is limited due to its off-targeted distribution in the eye, shorter drug residence, poor penetration and bioavailability, fatal side effects, etc. The above-mentioned downside necessitates drug delivery using some cutting-edge technology including diverse nanoparticulate systems and microneedles (MNs) which provide the best therapeutic delivery alternative to treat AMD efficiently. Furthermore, cutting-edge treatment modalities including gene therapy and stem cell therapy can control AMD effectively by reducing the boundaries of conventional therapies with a single dose. This review discusses AMD overview, conventional therapies for AMD and their restrictions, repurposed therapeutics and their anti-AMD activity through different mechanisms, and diverse barriers in drug delivery for AMD. Various nanoparticulate-based approaches including polymeric NPs, lipidic NPs, exosomes, active targeted NPs, stimuli-sensitive NPs, cell membrane-coated NPs, inorganic NPs, and MNs are explained. Gene therapy, stem cell therapy, and therapies in clinical trials to treat AMD are also discussed. Further, bottlenecks of cutting-edge (nanoparticulate) technology-based drug delivery are briefed. In a nutshell, cutting-edge technology-based therapies can be an effective way to treat AMD., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest with this publication and there has been no significant financial support for this work that could have influenced its outcome., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) provide effective cancer treatment through the selective delivery of cytotoxic payloads to the cancer cells. They offer unparalleled precision and specificity in directing drugs to cancer cells while minimizing off-target effects. Despite several advantages, there is a requirement for innovations in the molecular design of ADC owing to drug resistance, cancer heterogeneity along the adverse effects of treatment. The review critically analyses ADC function mechanisms, unraveling the intricate interplay between antibodies, linkers, and payloads in facilitating targeted drug delivery to cancer cells. The article also highlights notable advancements in antibody engineering, which aid in creating highly selective and potent ADCs. Additionally, the review details significant progress in clinical ADC development with an in-depth examination of pivotal trials and approved formulations. Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs) are a ground-breaking approach to targeted drug delivery, especially in cancer treatment. They offer unparalleled precision and specificity in directing drugs to cancer cells while minimizing off-target effects. This review provides a comprehensive examination of the current state of ADC development, covering their design, mechanisms of action, and clinical applications. The article emphasizes the need for greater precision in drug delivery and explains why ADCs are necessary., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)