Updates on Aldose Reductase Inhibitors for Management of Diabetic Complications and Non-diabetic Diseases.

Diabetes mellitus occurrence has been associated to the modification of the physiological levels of glucose and is often accompanied by several long-term complications, namely neuropathy, nephropathy, retinopathy, cataract, and cardiovascular. Aldose reductase (AR) is an enzyme of aldoketo reductase super-family that catalyzes the conversion of glucose to sorbitol in the polyol pathway of glucose metabolism. In this context, aldose reductase inhibitors (ARIs) have received much attention worldwide.

Recent Updates on Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor δ Agonists for the Treatment of Metabolic Syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome is a disorder described by reduced insulin sensitivity, overweight, hyperlipidaemia, high blood pressure and myocardial disorders, mainly due to high fat diet and lack of physical activity. The peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs) are type II nuclear hormone receptors that regulate a number of processes in living systems, such as metabolism of carbohydrates and fatty acids, growth and differentiation of cell, and inflammatory reactions. Alpha, gamma and delta are the three distinct isoforms of PPAR.

Supramolecular Nanomedicine - An Overview.

Supramolecular chemistry enabling molecules and molecular complexes binding through non-covalent bonds allows nanomedicines to serve their desirable function to deliver drugs at the right time and the right place with minimal invasiveness. Supramolecular nanomedicine is the application of nanosupramolecules to the human health and disease and its main applications include diagnosis and therapy, drug and gene delivery, and tissue engineering. Nanoparticles with different structures obtained by assembling supraamphiphiles are promising candidates for multifunctional therapeutic platforms combining imaging and therapeutic capabilities.

Recent updates on glucokinase activators for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Glucose-phosphorylating enzyme, glucokinase (GK) plays a major role in glucose homeostasis primarily through its regulatory actions in pancreatic β-cells and liver hepatocytes. Conversion of glucose to glucose-6-phosphate by GK promotes glycogen synthesis in liver hepatocytes, and insulin release in the pancreatic β-cells. Small molecules called glucokinase activators (GKAs) which bind to an allosteric activator site of the GK enzyme have indeed been discovered and developed, and thus hold great promise as new, effective and safe antidiabetic agents.

Nanotechnology in agri-food production: an overview.

Nanotechnology is one of the most important tools in modern agriculture, and agri-food nanotechnology is anticipated to become a driving economic force in the near future. Agri-food themes focus on sustainability and protection of agriculturally produced foods, including crops for human consumption and animal feeding. Nanotechnology provides new agrochemical agents and new delivery mechanisms to improve crop productivity, and it promises to reduce pesticide use.

Inorganic nanomedicine--part 2.

Unlabelled: Inorganic nanomaterials (INMs) and nanoparticles (NPs) are important in our lives because of their use as drugs, imaging agents, and antiseptics. Among the most promising INMs being developed are metal, silica, dendrimers, organic-inorganic hybrids, and bioinorganic hybrids. Gold NPs are important in imaging, as drug carriers, and for thermotherapy of biological targets.

Inorganic nanomedicine--part 1.

Inorganic nanomedicine refers to the use of inorganic or hybrid nanomaterials and nanosized objects to achieve innovative medical breakthroughs for drug and gene discovery and delivery, discovery of biomarkers, and molecular diagnostics. Potential uses for fluorescent quantum dots include cell labeling, biosensing, in vivo imaging, bimodal magnetic-luminescent imaging, and diagnostics. Biocompatible quantum dot conjugates have been used successfully for sentinel lymph node mapping, tumor targeting, tumor angiogenesis imaging, and metastatic cell tracking.

Food nanotechnology - an overview.

Food nanotechnology is an area of emerging interest and opens up a whole universe of new possibilities for the food industry. The basic categories of nanotechnology applications and functionalities currently in the development of food packaging include: the improvement of plastic materials barriers, the incorporation of active components that can deliver functional attributes beyond those of conventional active packaging, and the sensing and signaling of relevant information. Nano food packaging materials may extend food life, improve food safety, alert consumers that food is contaminated or spoiled, repair tears in packaging, and even release preservatives to extend the life of the food in the package.