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Topic Review
Oral siRNA Delivery for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treatments
RNA interference (RNAi) therapies have significant potential for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Oral nanomedicines carrying small interfering RNA (siRNA) drugs include the following two: (1) Polyplex or lipoplex. (2) Polyplex or lipoplex embedded in hydrogels or polymeric materials
  • 554
  • 11 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Natural Photoprotectants From Sea
The thinning of the ozone layer due to increased atmospheric pollution has exacerbated the negative effects of excessive exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR), and skin cancer has become a major public health concern. In order to prevent skin damage, public health advice mainly focuses on the use of sunscreens, along with wearing protective clothing and avoiding sun exposure during peak hours. Sunscreens present on the market are topical formulations that contain a number of different synthetic, organic, and inorganic UVR filters with different absorbance profiles, which, when combined, provide broad UVR spectrum protection. However, increased evidence suggests that some of these compounds cause subtle damage to marine ecosystems. One alternative may be the use of natural products that are produced in a wide range of marine species and are mainly thought to act as a defense against UVR-mediated damage.
  • 553
  • 28 Jul 2021
Topic Review
RNA-Dependent RNA-Polymerase (RdRp)
RdRp is an attractive target for developing therapies for COVID-19 as it plays a crucial role in the replication of SARS-CoV-2 (Scheme 1) and is well conserved between coronaviruses (RNA viruses).
  • 553
  • 09 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Plant-Based Antidiabetic Agents
Diabetes mellitus is a prevalent metabolic syndrome that is associated with high blood glucose levels. The number of diabetic patients is increasing every year and the total number of cases is expected to reach more than 600 million worldwide by 2045. Modern antidiabetic drugs alleviate hyperglycaemia and complications that are caused by high blood glucose levels. Due to the side effects of these drugs, plant extracts and bioactive compounds with antidiabetic properties have been gaining attention as alternative treatments for diabetes. Natural products are biocompatible, cheaper and expected to cause fewer side effects than the current antidiabetic drugs. Various nanocarrier systems are discussed, such as liposomes, niosomes, polymeric nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, solid lipid nanoparticles and metallic nanoparticles. These systems have been applied to overcome the limitations of the current drugs and simultaneously improve the efficacy of plant-based antidiabetic drugs. The main challenges in the formulation of plant-based nanocarriers are the loading capacity of the plant extracts and the stability of the carriers. Lipid nanocarriers and the amphipathic properties of phospholipids and liposomes that encapsulate hydrophilic, hydrophobic and amphiphilic drugs is also described. A special emphasis is placed on metallic nanoparticles, with their advantages and associated complications being reported to highlight their effectiveness for treating hyperglycaemia.
  • 553
  • 02 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Novel Pyridothienopyrimidine Derivatives
The growing risk of antimicrobial resistance besides the continuous increase in the number of cancer patients represents a great threat to global health, which requires intensified efforts to discover new bioactive compounds to use as antimicrobial and anticancer agents. Thus, a new set of pyridothienopyrimidine derivatives 2a,b–9a,b was synthesized via cyclization reactions of 3-amino-thieno[2,3-b]pyridine-2-carboxamides 1a,b with different reagents. All new compounds were evaluated against five bacterial and five fungal strains. Many of the target compounds showed significant antimicrobial activity. In addition, the new derivatives were further subjected to cytotoxicity evaluation against HepG-2 and MCF-7 cancer cell lines. The most potent cytotoxic candidates (3a, 4a, 5a, 6b, 8b and 9b) were examined as EGFR kinase inhibitors. 
  • 552
  • 10 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Formulation Strategies to Improve Pharmacokinetics Profile
The oral route is the most common and practical means of drug administration, particularly from a patient’s perspective. However, the pharmacokinetic profile of oral drugs depends on the rate of drug absorption through the intestinal wall before entering the systemic circulation. However, the enteric epithelium represents one of the major limiting steps for drug absorption, due to the presence of efflux transporters on the intestinal membrane, mucous layer, enzymatic degradation, and the existence of tight junctions along the intestinal linings. These challenges are more noticeable for hydrophilic drugs, high molecular weight drugs, and drugs that are substrates of the efflux transporters. Another challenge faced by oral drug delivery is the presence of first-pass hepatic metabolism that can result in reduced drug bioavailability. Over the years, a wide range of compounds have been investigated for their permeation-enhancing effect in order to circumvent these challenges. There is also a growing interest in developing nanocarrier-based formulation strategies to enhance the drug absorption.
  • 551
  • 26 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Nanotheranostics for Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis refers to the pathophysiological conditions where the medium and large arteries are significantly affected due to spatial deposition of various materials such as lipoproteins (particularly cholesterol), immune cells (circulating monocytes), proinflammatory factors (i.e., macrophages and T-cells), degraded extracellular matrix components and necrotic products. Atherosclerosis is considered to be the primary cause of chronic CVDs, including coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral arterial disease. Atherosclerosis is characterized by a series of physiological events, including endothelial dysfunction, inflammatory responses, cell proliferation, lipoprotein deposition, vascular remodeling, and finally, plaque formation.
  • 550
  • 15 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Novel Antituberculosis Agents
Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), is a curable airborne disease currently treated using a drug regimen consisting of four drugs.
  • 550
  • 21 May 2021
Topic Review
Antimicrobial Peptides-Silver Nanoparticles for Methicillin-Resistance Staphylococcus aureus
Antibiotics are regarded as a miracle in the medical field as it prevents disease caused by pathogenic bacteria. Since the discovery of penicillin, antibiotics have become the foundation for modern medical discoveries. However, bacteria soon became resistant to antibiotics, which puts a burden on the healthcare system. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become one of the most prominent antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the world since 1961. MRSA primarily developed resistance to beta-lactamases antibiotics and can be easily spread in the healthcare system. Thus, alternatives to combat MRSA are urgently required. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), an innate host immune agent and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), are gaining interest as alternative treatments against MRSA. Both agents have broad-spectrum properties which are suitable candidates for controlling MRSA. Although both agents can exhibit antimicrobial effects independently, the combination of both can be synergistic and complementary to each other to exhibit stronger antimicrobial activity. The combination of AMPs and AgNPs also reduces their own weaknesses as their own, which can be developed as a potential agent to combat antibiotic resistance especially towards MRSA. 
  • 550
  • 25 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Natural Compounds with Antioxidant in Maintaining Eye Health
An antioxidant compound can be defined as a substance that can delay or prevent oxidation. The body uses different strategies against the production and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS): firstly, antioxidant enzymes are used, as already reported, such as catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px). It is important to remember that some antioxidant enzymes need micronutrients to function properly, such as zinc, selenium, copper and manganese. Secondly, ROS can be reduced or neutralized by the intake of antioxidant nutrients, such as vitamin E (a-tocopherol), beta-carotene, and vitamin C, among others. An insufficient intake of foods with antioxidant function or an unbalanced diet can alter the body’s natural antioxidant system and facilitate the damage induced by ROS. Additional defense mechanisms include antioxidant compounds, such as metallothionein, melanin, and glutathione. Eye health is crucial, and the onset of diseases can reduce vision and affect the quality of life of patients. Evidence has accumulated that polyphenols (mostly deriving from Citrus Bergamia) represent a reliable source of antioxidants able to counteract oxidative stress accompanying early stages of eye diseases. Luteolin in particular has been found to protect photoreceptors, thereby improving vision in many disease states. Moreover, a consistent anti-inflammatory response was found to occur when curcumin is used alone or in combination with other nutraceuticals. Additionally, Coenzyme Q10 has been demonstrated to produce a consistent effect in reducing ocular pressure, thereby leading to protection in patients undergoing glaucoma. Both grape seed extract, rich in anthocyanosides, and polynsatured fatty acids seem to contribute to the prevention of retinal disorders. A combination of nutraceuticals and antioxidants may represent the right solution for a multi-action activity in eye protection.
  • 549
  • 09 Jan 2023
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