Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic and chronic disorder, which is very common all over the world. Many genetic and nongenetic factors are involved in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). ...Meanwhile, the resistin gene is an important candidate in the pathogenesis of this complex condition. High levels of transcription of the resistin gene are associated with inflammation, insulin resistance, initiation and development of T2DM and atherosclerosis progression through induction of secretion of bioactive materials from adipocytes. Releasing adipose tissue‐derived inflammatory cytokines is associated with inflammatory processes activation, which causes inhibition of insulin action via interference with insulin signaling, such that these disorders can contribute to insulin resistance. With the direct effect of resistin and other inflammatory mediators on vascular endothelial cells and arterial walls, the expression of cell adhesion molecules is increased. This process can lead to atherosclerosis and will result in coronary artery disease (CAD). In this review, we will explore the effects of resistin on inflammation and insulin resistance that may lead to type 2 diabetes and CAD.
As an adipocyte‐derived hormone, resistin is an important candidate for inflammation, insulin resistance, the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. In this review, we will study the effects of resistin on inflammation and insulin resistance that may lead to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Hypoxia, a characteristic feature of tumors, is indispensable to tumor angiogenesis, metastasis, and multi drug resistance. Hypoxic avascular regions, deeply embedded inside the tumors significantly ...hinder delivery of therapeutic agents. The low oxygen tension results in resistance to the current applied anti‐cancer therapeutics including radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and photodynamic therapy, the efficacy of which is firmly tied to the level of tumor oxygen supply. However, emerging data indicate that nanocarriers/nanodrugs can offer substantial benefits to improve the efficacy of current therapeutics, through modulation of tumor hypoxia. This review aims to introduce the most recent advances made in nanocarrier mediated targeting of tumor hypoxia. The first part is dedicated to the approaches by which nanocarriers could be designed to target/leverage hypoxia. These approaches include i) inhibiting Hypoxia Inducer Factor (HIF‐1α); ii) hypoxia activated prodrugs/linkers; and iii) obligate anaerobe mediated targeting of tumor hypoxia. The second part, details novel nanosystems proposed to modulate tumor hypoxia through tumor oxygenation. These methods seek to lessen tumor hypoxia through vascular normalization, or reoxygenation therapy. The reoxygenation of tumor could be accomplished by: i) generation of oxygen filled nanocarriers; ii) natural/artificial oxygen nanocarriers; and iii) oxygen generators. The efficacy of each approach and their potential in cancer therapy is further discussed.
Hypoxic avascular regions, deeply embedded inside the tumors significantly hinder delivery of therapeutic agents. Hypoxia could be accomplished by developing HIF‐1a and VEGF inhibitors that are now successfully integrated into the oncology practice. Incorporation of nanomedicine in targeting tumor hypoxia could dramatically enhance potential of anti‐cancer therapeutics.
Novel advanced hydrogels can provide a versatile platform for controlled delivery and release of various cargos, with a myriad of biomedical applications. These gel‐based nanostructures possess good ...biocompatibility, biodegradability, flexibility, multifunctionality, can respond to internal or external stimuli, and can adapt to their surrounding environment. This new generation of hydrogels is not only capable of serving as targeted drug delivery vehicles, but they can also perform a variety of tasks within living cells and organisms. In this review, advanced hydrogels are classified as static, dynamic, multi‐stage, or bioinspired. They can be used as cell‐free gene expression platforms for gene therapy. Administration of nanogel‐based sprays can act as an immunovaccine priming macrophages toward the M1 phenotype to avoid cancer recurrence following surgery. Nanogels can also serve as a dual biosensing and capture platform for liquid biopsies, and can recognize and remove circulating cancer cells from the blood of cancer patients.
Potential applications of advanced nano/hydrogels in biomedicine, in particular tissue regeneration and cancer therapy, based on a new classification consisting of static, dynamic, multi‐stage, and bioinspired is presented. Guidelines for specific and general uses of each format as well as those with a chance of translation into the clinic are discussed.
As a young science, nanotechnology promptly integrated into the current oncology practice. Accordingly, various nanostructure particles were developed to reduce drug toxicity and allow the targeted ...delivery of various diagnostic and therapeutic compounds to the cancer cells. New sophisticated nanosystems constantly emerge to improve the performance of current anticancer modalities. Targeting tumor vasculature is an attractive strategy to fight cancer. Though the idea was swiftly furthered from basic science to the clinic, targeting tumor vasculature had a limited potential in patients, where tumors relapse due to the development of multiple drug resistance and metastasis. The aim of this review is to discuss the advantages of nanosystem incorporation with various vascular targeting agents, including (i) endogen anti‐angiogenic agents; (ii) inhibitors of angiogenesis‐related growth factors; (iii) inhibitors of tyrosine kinase receptors; (iv) inhibitors of angiogenesis‐related signaling pathways; (v) inhibitors of tumor endothelial cell‐associated markers; and (vi) tumor vascular disrupting agents. We also review the efficacy of nanostructures as natural vascular targeting agents. The efficacy of each approach in cancer therapy is further discussed.
Various nanostructure particles were developed to reduce drug toxicity and allow the targeted delivery of various diagnostic and therapeutic compounds to the cancer cells. Targeting tumor vasculature rather than tumor cells is an appealing strategy, since cutting off the tumor‐feeding system would lead to the indirect targeting of tumor cells, as well.
Recently, enormous attention has been focused on the development of protein-molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). In this sense, bovine serum albumin (BSA) is well regarded as a favorite template in ...various MIPs-based biochemical/analytical assays mainly due to its low price, easy availability, and high structural homology to human serum albumin (HSA). Equally, the implications of BSA in the pathology of different human-related disorders necessitate the development of methods for its precise detection in biological samples. Accordingly, the current review seeks to provide an update on the design, synthesis, and characterization of the developed MIPs which have used BSA as template protein. Also, the recognition and quantification of BSA in different real samples using the prepared MIPs are discussed. Additionally, main strategies, such as surface imprinting, epitope-MIPs, microcontact imprinting and other methods to overcome the problems associated with the molecular printing of BSA are discussed here. The final discussion provides a comparative exploration of different approaches developed, emphasizing their relative advantages and disadvantages and underlining developments and possible future directions.
Display omitted
•Different types of recently developed BSA-MIPs are overviewed here.•Design, synthesis, and characterization of the BSA-MIPs are described.•Main strategies adopted for overcoming the BSA-MIPs obstacles are highlighted.•Other approaches considered in BSA-MIPs advancement are also discussed.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) are the two most prevalent joint diseases. A such, they are important causes of pain and disability in a substantial proportion of the human ...population. A common characteristic of these diseases is the erosion of articular cartilage and consequently joint dysfunction. Melatonin has been proposed as a link between circadian rhythms and joint diseases including RA and OA. This hormone exerts a diversity of regulatory actions through binding to specific receptors and intracellular targets as well as having receptor‐independent actions as a free radical scavenger. Cytoprotective effects of melatonin involve a myriad of prominent receptor‐mediated pathways/molecules associated with inflammation, of which the role of omnipresent NF‐κB signalling is crucial. Likewise, disturbance of circadian timekeeping is closely involved in the aetiology of inflammatory arthritis. Melatonin is shown to stimulate cartilage destruction/regeneration through direct/indirect modulation of the expression of the main circadian clock genes, such as BMAL, CRY and/or DEC2. In the current article, we review the effects of melatonin on RA and OA, focusing on its ability to regulate inflammatory pathways and circadian rhythms. We also review the possible protective effects of melatonin on RA and OA pathogenesis.
Linked Articles
This article is part of a themed section on Recent Developments in Research of Melatonin and its Potential Therapeutic Applications. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v175.16/issuetoc
The drug delivery performances of pH‐responsive magnetic hydrogels (MHs) composed of tragacanth gum (TG), poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), and Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) were investigated in terms of ...physicochemical as well as biological features. The fabricated drug delivery systems (DDSs) were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, vibrating sample magnetometer, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The synthesized MHs were loaded with doxorubicin hydrochloride (Dox) as a universal model anti‐cancer drug. The MHs showed excellent Dox loading and encapsulation efficiencies, mainly due to strong hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction between the drug and polymeric matrix, as well as porous micro‐structures of the fabricated MHs. The drug‐loaded MHs showed negligible drug release values in physiological condition. In contrast, in cancerous condition (pH 5.0), both MHs exhibited highest drug release values that qualified them as “smart” DDSs. The cytocompatibilities of the MHs as well as the cytotoxicity of the Dox‐loaded MHs were investigated against human epidermoid‐like carcinoma (Hela) cells through MTT assay. In addition, hyperthermia therapy induced by Fe3O4 NPs was applied to locally raise temperature inside the Hela cells at 45 ± 3°C to promote cell death. As a result, the Dox‐loaded MHs can be considered as potential DDSs for chemo/hyperthermia therapy of solid tumors.
The effective use of agricultural by-products is definitely a major challenge in waste management. In the walnut fruit processing industry, large amounts of shells are produced as agricultural ...by-products and discarded or burned produced as fuel. Walnut (
Juglans regia
L.) is a valuable tree nut in the Juglandaceae family. The fruit is composed of four main parts: the kernel, the skin, the shell, and the husk. The importance of walnuts is mostly related to theirs valuable kernels. However, their shells are currently experiencing as much interest as their kernels due to the beneficial effects of the shells. In the past several years, walnut shell (WS) has been widely explored as a naturally inert plant-based biosorbent. In this review, we first highlight recent scientific literature regarding the development of adsorbents from WS in the form of carbon-based materials including unmodified/modified WS, and activated carbons (ACs). Next, we discuss the potential applications of WS-derived by-products as natural yet effective adsorbents for the removal of various hazardous materials including heavy metals (HMs), synthetic industrial dyes, and harmful chemicals.
The effective use of agricultural by-products is definitely a major challenge in waste management.
Thanks to the synthetic biology, the laborious and restrictive procedure for producing a target protein in living microorganisms by biotechnological approaches can now experience a robust, pliant yet ...efficient alternative. The new system combined with lab‐on‐chip microfluidic devices and nanotechnology offers a tremendous potential envisioning novel cell‐free formats such as DNA brushes, hydrogels, vesicular particles, droplets, as well as solid surfaces. Acting as robust microreactors/microcompartments/minimal cells, the new platforms can be tuned to perform various tasks in a parallel and integrated manner encompassing gene expression, protein synthesis, purification, detection, and finally enabling cell‐cell signaling to bring a collective cell behavior, such as directing differentiation process, characteristics of higher order entities, and beyond. In this review, we issue an update on recent cell‐free protein synthesis (CFPS) formats. Furthermore, the latest advances and applications of CFPS for synthetic biology and biotechnology are highlighted. In the end, contemporary challenges and future opportunities of CFPS systems are discussed.
Cell‐free (protein) synthesis combined with lab‐on‐chip microfluidic devices and nanotechnology offers minimal cells/microcompartments that can be tuned to perform various tasks in a parallel and integrated manner from simple gene synthesis to mimicking complex tissue‐like behaviors.
Advanced forms of hydrogels have many inherently desirable properties and can be designed with different structures and functions. In particular, bioresponsive multifunctional hydrogels can carry out ...sophisticated biological functions. These include in situ single‐cell approaches, capturing, analysis, and release of living cells, biomimetics of cell, tissue, and tumor‐specific niches. They can allow in vivo cell manipulation and act as novel drug delivery systems, allowing diagnostic, therapeutic, vaccination, and immunotherapy methods. In the present review of multitasking hydrogels, new approaches and devices classified into point‐of‐care testing (POCT), microarrays, single‐cell/rare cell approaches, artificial membranes, biomimetic modeling systems, nanodoctors, and microneedle patches are summarized. The potentials and application of each format are critically discussed, and some limitations are highlighted. Finally, how hydrogels can enable an “all‐in‐one platform” to play a key role in cancer therapy, regenerative medicine, and the treatment of inflammatory, degenerative, genetic, and metabolic diseases is being looked forward to.
Bioresponsive multitasking hydrogels can play a key role in cancer therapy, regenerative medicine, and the treatment of inflammatory, degenerative, genetic, and metabolic diseases. These hydrogels are classified into point‐of‐care testing, microarrays, single‐cell/rare cell approaches, artificial membranes, biomimetic modeling systems, nanodoctors, and microneedle patches.