An overview of the development of pharmacotherapeutics targeting SARS-CoV-2.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a global pandemic in March 2020, which precipitated urgent public health responses. The causative agent, SARS-CoV-2, spreads primarily via respiratory droplets, necessitating precautions to mitigate transmission risks. Biopharmaceutical industries and academic institutions worldwide swiftly redirected their research endeavors towards developing therapeutic interventions, focusing on monoclonal antibodies, antiviral agents, and immunomodulatory therapies.

Cell-Penetrating Peptides as Keys to Endosomal Escape and Intracellular Trafficking in Nanomedicine Delivery.

This review article discusses the challenges of delivering cargoes to the cytoplasm, for example, proteins, peptides, and nucleic acids, and the mechanisms involved in endosomal escape. Endocytosis, endosomal maturation, and exocytosis pose significant barriers to effective cytoplasmic delivery. The article explores various endosomal escape mechanisms, such as the proton sponge effect, osmotic lysis, membrane fusion, pore formation, membrane destabilization/ disruption, and vesicle budding and collapse.

Visualizing the 4D Impact of Gold Nanoparticles on DNA.

The genotoxicity of AuNPs has sparked a scientific debate, with one perspective attributing it to direct DNA damage and another to oxidative damage through reactive oxygen species (ROS) activation. This controversy poses challenges for the widespread use of AuNPs in biomedical applications. To address this debate, we employed four-dimensional atomic force microscopy (4DAFM) to examine the ability of AuNPs to damage DNA in vitro in the absence of ROS.

A Comprehensive Review on Nanoparticles as a Targeted Delivery System for the Treatment of Lung Cancer.

The second most common type of cancer is lung cancer, impacting the human population. Lung cancer is treated with a number of surgical and non-surgical therapies, including radiation, chemotherapy, and photodynamic treatment. However, the bulk of these procedures are costly, difficult, and hostile to patients.

Leveraging hypoxia in triple-negative breast cancer as a promising treatment strategy.

Current treatment strategies for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) are based upon conventional chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or a combination of both. The treatment regimen for chemotherapy is often a combination of two or more drugs, either dose dense or low dose for synergy. Anthracyclines, alkylating agents, antimicrotubule agents, and antimetabolites for early-stage TNBC; and antimetabolites, non-taxane microtubule inhibitors, and cross-linker platinums for late-stage TNBC are usually administered in the clinical setting.

Curcumin and its Derivatives Targeting Multiple Signaling Pathways to Elicit Anticancer Activity: A Comprehensive Perspective.

The uncontrolled growth and spread of aberrant cells characterize the group of disorders known as cancer. According to GLOBOCAN 2022 analysis of cancer patients in either developed countries or developing countries the main concern cancers are breast cancer, lung cancer, and liver cancer which may rise eventually. Natural substances with dietary origins have gained interest for their low toxicity, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects.

Structural Insights into N-heterocyclic Moieties as an Anticancer Agent against Hepatocellular Carcinoma: An Exhaustive Perspective.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is rapidly spreading around the world with a high mortality rate. In the low- and middle-income nations most impacted by HCV and HBV infections, HCC places a significant strain on the healthcare system and leaches productive capability. An extensive study on HCC to create novel therapeutic approaches was motivated by the lack of adequate preventive or curative therapy methods.

Multiple Protein Biomarkers and Different Treatment Strategies for Colorectal Carcinoma: A Comprehensive Prospective.

In this review, we emphasized important biomarkers, pathogenesis, and newly developed therapeutic approaches in the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC). This includes a complete description of small-molecule inhibitors, phytopharmaceuticals with antiproliferative potential, monoclonal antibodies for targeted therapy, vaccinations as immunotherapeutic agents, and many innovative strategies to intervene in the interaction of oncogenic proteins. Many factors combine to determine the clinical behavior of colorectal cancer and it is still difficult to comprehend the molecular causes of a person's vulnerability to CRC.

Structural Insight on GPR119 Agonist as Potential Therapy for Type II Diabetes: A Comprehensive Review.

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a long-term metabolic condition that is characterized by excessive blood glucose. DM is the third most death-causing disease, leading to retinopathy, nephropathy, loss of vision, stroke, and cardiac arrest. Around 90% of the total cases of diabetic patients have Type II Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM).

Nanomedicine approaches to reduce cytokine storms in severe infections.

During a cytokine storm, dysregulated proinflammatory cytokines are produced in excess. Cytokine storms occur in multiple infectious diseases, including Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). Thus, eliminating cytokine storms to enhance patient outcomes is crucial.

Comparison of Tau and Amyloid-β Targeted Immunotherapy Nanoparticles for Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a rapidly growing global concern associated with the accumulation of amyloid-β plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles in the brain combined with a high acetylcholinesterase activity. AD diagnosis is usually made too late, when patients have an extensive neuronal death, and brain damage is irreversible. Several therapeutic targets have been defined mainly related to two hypotheses of AD: the tau hypothesis and the amyloid-β hypothesis.

Nanomedicine for overcoming therapeutic and diagnostic challenges associated with pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the USA. The 5-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer is as low as 10%, making it one of the most deadly cancers. This dismal prognosis is caused, in part, by the lack of early detection and screening options, leading to late-stage detection of the disease, at a point at which chemotherapy is no longer effective.

Endoscopic Retroperitoneal Necrosectomy for Infected Pancreatic Necrosis Using a Self-Expandable Metal Stent.

Infected walled-off pancreatic necrosis (WOPN) is a severe complication of acute pancreatitis. Surgery in these critically ill patients can be associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Hence, minimally invasive therapies have emerged as an alternative to surgery.

Folate Functionalized Lipid Nanoparticles for Targeted Therapy of Methicillin-Resistant .

Methicillin-resistant (MRSA), commonly called a superbug, is a highly alarming antibiotic-resistant population of bacteria. Vancomycin (VAN) was first approved by the FDA in 1988, and it is still regarded as the treatment of choice for MRSA. The efficacy of VAN treatment has become less effective due to the development of VAN resistance in MRSA and the potential for nephrotoxicity.

Nano-therapeutic strategies to target coronavirus.

The coronaviruses have caused severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and the more recent coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19). The global COVID-19 pandemic requires urgent action to develop anti-virals, new therapeutics, and vaccines. In this review, we discuss potential therapeutics including human recombinant ACE2 soluble, inflammatory cytokine inhibitors, and direct anti-viral agents such as remdesivir and favipiravir, to limit their fatality.

Multiple strategies for the treatment of invasive breast carcinoma: A comprehensive prospective.

In this review, we emphasize on evolving therapeutic strategies and advances in the treatment of breast cancer (BC). This includes small-molecule inhibitors under preclinical and clinical investigation, phytoconstituents with antiproliferative potential, targeted therapies as antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), vaccines as immunotherapeutic agents and peptides as a novel approach inhibiting the interaction of oncogenic proteins. We provide an update of molecules under different phases of clinical investigation which aid in the identification of loopholes or shortcomings that can be overcomed with future breast cancer research.

Overcoming the Tumor Microenvironmental Barriers of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinomas for Achieving Better Treatment Outcomes.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive disease with the lowest survival rate among all solid tumors. The lethality of PDAC arises from late detection and propensity of the tumor to metastasize and develop resistance against chemo and radiation therapy. A highly complex tumor microenvironment composed of dense stroma, immune cells, fibroblast, and disorganized blood vessels, is the main obstacle to current PDAC therapy.

Interactions Between Tumor Biology and Targeted Nanoplatforms for Imaging Applications.

Although considerable efforts have been conducted to diagnose, improve, and treat cancer in the past few decades, existing therapeutic options are insufficient, as mortality and morbidity rates remain high. Perhaps the best hope for substantial improvement lies in early detection. Recent advances in nanotechnology are expected to increase the current understanding of tumor biology, and will allow nanomaterials to be used for targeting and imaging both in vitro and in vivo experimental models.

Recent advances in nano delivery systems for blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration and targeting of brain tumors.

Gliomas constitute about 80% of brain tumors and have a meager two-year survival rate. The treatment options available are very few because of poor prognosis and a lack of targeted nanodelivery systems that can cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the blood-tumor barrier. This short review attempts to clarify the challenges for delivery systems designed to cross the BBB, and provides a brief description of the different types of targeted nanodelivery system that have shown potential for success in delivering drugs to the brain.

Transferrin: Biology and Use in Receptor-Targeted Nanotherapy of Gliomas.

Gliomas constitute 80% of malignant brain tumors. The survival rate of patients diagnosed with malignant gliomas is only 34.4%, as seen in both adults as well as children.

Folate Receptors' Expression in Gliomas May Possess Potential Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery Opportunities.

Brain cancer effected around estimated 23 890 adults and 3540 children under the age of 15 in 2020. The chemotherapeutic agents that are already approved by the FDA for brain cancer are proving to be not highly effective because of the interference from the tumor microenvironment as well as their own toxicities. Added to this is the impedance presented by the extremely restrictive permeability of the blood brain barrier (BBB).

LDL receptors and their role in targeted therapy for glioma: a review.

Gliomas are highly lethal forms of cancers occurring in the brain. Delivering the drugs into the brain is a major challenge to the treatment of gliomas because of the highly selectively permeable blood-brain barrier (BBB). Tapping the potential of receptor-mediated drug delivery systems using targeted nanoparticles (NPs) is a sought-after step forward toward successful glioma treatment.

Mycophenolate mofetil-induced liver injury in a patient with aquaporin-4 antibody positive transverse myelitis.

We present a case of a 49-year-old woman diagnosed with aquaporin-4 antibody-positive transverse myelitis, who developed a significant transaminitis 2 months after commencing mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) as a steroid-sparing agent. No other risk factors were identified, a blood liver panel was negative and liver biopsy showed features compatible with drug-induced liver injury (DILI). MMF was stopped with a corresponding normalisation of serum alanine aminotransferase over the next 2 months.

Comparing and Contrasting MERS, SARS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2: Prevention, Transmission, Management, and Vaccine Development.

The COVID-19 pandemic is responsible for an unprecedented disruption to the healthcare systems and economies of countries around the world. Developing novel therapeutics and a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 requires an understanding of the similarities and differences between the various human coronaviruses with regards to their phylogenic relationships, transmission, and management. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that humans were first infected with SARS-CoV-2 in late 2019 and the virus rapidly spread from the outbreak epicenter in Wuhan, China to various parts of the world.