Synthesis of a Gemcitabine Prodrug and its Encapsulation into Polymeric Nanoparticles for Improved Therapeutic Efficacy.

Gemcitabine (GEM), a chemotherapeutic agent, is widely utilized in treating various neoplasm conditions, such as pancreatic, lung, breast, and ovarian cancers. However, its therapeutic effectiveness is often hindered by its hydrophilic nature, short half-life and susceptibility to enzymatic degradation. To address these limitations, in this research, five new prodrugs of GEM were synthesized by conjugating its N-4 amino group with five different acids [4-decenoic acid (4Dec), lipoic acid (Lipo), lauric acid (Laur), 5-benzyl N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)- L-glutamate (Glu), and decanoic acid (Dec)].

Recent progress in covalent organic frameworks for cancer therapy.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have gained tremendous interest in cancer therapy owing to their multifunctional properties, such as biocompatibility, tunable cavities, excellent crystallinity, ease of modification/functionalization, and high flexibility. These unique properties offer multiple benefits, such as high loading capacity, prevention from premature leakage, targeted delivery to the tumor microenvironment (TME), and release of therapeutic agents in a controlled manner, which makes them effective and excellent nanoplatforms for cancer therapeutics. In this review, we outline recent advances in using COFs as delivery system for chemotherapeutic agents, photodynamic therapy (PDT), photothermal therapy (PTT), sonodynamic therapy (SDT), cancer diagnostics, and combinatorial therapy for cancer therapeutics.

Recent Advances in the Discovery of Potent Proteases Inhibitors Targeting the SARS Coronaviruses.

Across the globe, countries are being challenged by the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic in ways they have never been before. The global outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 with an uncertain fatality rate has imposed extreme challenges on global health. The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared the outbreak of COVID-19 a pandemic, after the disease caused by the new coronavirus spread to more than 100 countries.