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Topic Review
Erythrocytes for Targeted Drug Delivery
Erythrocytes (red blood cells, RBCs) are the largest population of blood cells in mammals. Their main function is oxygen transfer to cells and body tissues. The lifetime of erythrocytes in the bloodstream is 100–120 days, after which they are removed by the spleen. Due to the unique biophysical properties RBCs can be used as drug carriers in two different ways: by incorporating the drug into the cells or by binding it (using non-specific adsorption or a specific association, involving antibodies or various chemical cross-linking compounds) on the RBCs’ surface. Erythrocytes can act as carriers that prolong the drug’s action due to its gradual release from the carrier; as bioreactors with encapsulated enzymes performing the necessary reactions, while remaining inaccessible to the immune system and plasma proteases; or as a tool for targeted drug delivery to target organs, primarily to cells of the reticuloendothelial system, liver and spleen. To date, erythrocytes have been studied as carriers for a wide range of drugs, such as enzymes, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, antiviral drugs, etc., and for diagnostic purposes. 
  • 851
  • 22 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Skeletal Muscle Uncoupling Proteins in Obesity Mice Models
Obesity and accompanying type 2 diabetes are among major and increasing worldwide problems that occur fundamentally due to excessive energy intake during its expenditure. Endotherms continuously consume a certain amount of energy to maintain core body temperature via thermogenic processes, mainly in brown adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. Skeletal muscle glucose utilization and heat production are significant and directly linked to body glucose homeostasis at rest, and especially during physical activity. However, this glucose balance is impaired in diabetic and obese states in humans and mice, and manifests as glucose resistance and altered muscle cell metabolism. Uncoupling proteins have a significant role in converting electrochemical energy into thermal energy without ATP generation. Different homologs of uncoupling proteins were identified, and their roles were linked to antioxidative activity and boosting glucose and lipid metabolism. From this perspective, uncoupling proteins were studied in correlation to the pathogenesis of diabetes and obesity and their possible treatments. Mice were extensively used as model organisms to study the physiology and pathophysiology of energy homeostasis. However, researchers should be aware of interstrain differences in mice models of obesity regarding thermogenesis and insulin resistance in skeletal muscles. 
  • 845
  • 05 May 2022
Topic Review
Methodologies and Wearable Devices to Monitor Sleep Dysfunctions
Sleep is crucial for human health from metabolic, mental, emotional, and social points of view; obtaining good sleep in terms of quality and duration is fundamental for maintaining a good life quality. Several systems have been proposed in the scientific literature and on the market to derive metrics used to quantify sleep quality as well as detect sleep disturbances and disorders. In this field, wearable systems have an important role in the discreet, accurate, and long-term detection of biophysical markers useful to determine sleep quality.
  • 844
  • 07 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Advances of MXenes
MXenes are synthesized from ‘MAX’ phases by the selective etching of ‘A’ layers. The MAX phases are conductive 2D layers of transition metal carbides/nitrides interconnected by the ‘A’ element with strong ionic, metallic, and covalent bonds.
  • 834
  • 04 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Tumor Cell Infiltration into the Brain in Glioblastoma
Glioblastoma is the most common and malignant primary brain tumor, defined by its highly aggressive nature. Despite the advances in diagnostic and surgical techniques, and the development of novel therapies in the last decade, the prognosis for glioblastoma is still extremely poor. One major factor for the failure of existing therapeutic approaches is the highly invasive nature of glioblastomas. The extreme infiltrating capacity of tumor cells into the brain parenchyma makes complete surgical removal difficult; glioblastomas almost inevitably recur in a more therapy-resistant state, sometimes at distant sites in the brain. Therefore, there are major efforts to understand the molecular mechanisms underpinning glioblastoma invasion; however, there is no approved therapy directed against the invasive phenotype as of now.
  • 834
  • 07 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Viral Vectors for Gene Delivery
Over the course of millions of years, viruses have evolved and adapted to changes in the biological environment which has allowed them to survive and replicate in host cells. Using this feature of viruses, gene therapy research has developed new approaches utilizing viruses and their different genomes as carriers and vectors for the delivery of genes, nucleic acids, and other genetic material to cell target sites.
  • 831
  • 24 Aug 2022
Topic Review
EGFR Signaling in Lung Fibrosis
The epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGFR), belongs to the family of the ErbB tyrosine kinase receptors. EGFR is also known as ErbB1 or HER1. Other members of this family are ErbB2 (HER2), ErbB3 (HER3) and ErbB4 (HER4).
  • 823
  • 30 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Microvascular Tissue Engineering
Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine have come a long way in recent decades, but the lack of functioning vasculature is still a major obstacle preventing the development of thicker, physiologically relevant tissue constructs. A large part of this obstacle lies in the development of the vessels on a microscale—the microvasculature—that are crucial for oxygen and nutrient delivery. 
  • 823
  • 23 Jun 2021
Topic Review
SGLT2 Inhibitors
Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are a new class of oral glucose-lowering agents. Apart from their glucose-lowering effects, large clinical trials assessing certain SGLT2 inhibitors have revealed cardiac and renal protective effects in non-diabetic patients. These excellent outcomes motivated scientists and clinical professionals to revisit their underlying mechanisms. In addition to the heart and kidney, redox homeostasis is crucial in several human diseases, including liver diseases, neural disorders, and cancers, with accumulating preclinical studies demonstrating the therapeutic benefits of SGLT2 inhibitors.
  • 818
  • 18 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Bispecific Antibody-Based Immune-Cell Engagers in Cancer Immunotherapy
Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide after cardiovascular diseases. One of the most promising targeted therapies for cancer treatment is antibody therapy. It has a superior targeting ability for antigens that are expressed on cancer cells, which results in prominent antitumor activity and lower toxicity, compared with that of chemotherapeutic agents. Recent progress in recombinant DNA technology and antibody engineering has ushered in a new era of bispecific antibody (bsAb)-based immune-cell engagers (ICEs), including T- and natural-killer-cell engagers.
  • 814
  • 06 Jan 2023
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