Current Nanomedicine - Volume 15, Issue 4, 2025

Prostate cancer remains a significant global health concern, necessitating the development of innovative therapeutic approaches. This editorial provides an overview of the current state of research on aptamer-modified nanocarriers as a novel strategy for prostate cancer therapy. Aptamers, known for their high specificity and affinity, have drawn much attention in both research and the pharmaceutical industry. The Systematic Evolution of Ligands by the Exponential Enrichment (SELEX) technique has enabled the development of aptamers that can selectively bind to target ligands based on their unique three-dimensional structures. Notably, the A10 aptamer, modified to target PSMA (Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen), has demonstrated strong binding affinity and specificity to prostate cancer cells, offering promise as an efficient drug-delivery system. Additionally, biosensors, like the innovative apta-sensor targeting MUC1, have utilized aptamers to detect cancer through electrochemical signals. Additionally, aptamers have improved the pharmacological attributes of chemotherapeutic agents for prostate cancer treatment. Aptamer- mediated drug delivery has offered enhanced drug delivery, targeting, cellular uptake, and minimizing side effects.

Enhancing therapeutic efficacy stands as a pivotal concern across various medical conditions. Traditional therapeutic approaches have encountered limitations in addressing numerous issues. Over the recent years, the integration of nanotechnology has successfully overcome these obstacles, ushering in a new era of advanced treatment modalities. One notable stride has been the utilization of lipid-based nanocarriers, which have demonstrated substantial improvements in therapeutic outcomes. Among these innovative drug delivery systems (lipid-based), nanocochleates have emerged as the focal point for augmenting therapeutic potential and enabling targeted actions. Originally employed for vaccines, genes, and fungal infections, nanocochleates have evolved to address significant life-threatening diseases where conventional therapies fall short. The distinctive capability of nanocochleates lies in their ability to deliver drugs with enhanced precision in comparison with supplementary lipid-based systems, making them a promising novel carrier for improved efficacy. This piece of writing delves into the fundamentals of nanocochleates, exploring their safety and stability aspects, recent trends, and diverse applications. Notably, nanocochleates have shown promise in managing conditions such as diabetes mellitus, malaria, leishmaniasis, cancer, viral infections, and osteoporosis. By elucidating the unique attributes and potential of nanocochleates, this review aims to contribute valuable insights into their role as a cutting-edge drug delivery system across a spectrum of critical medical scenarios.

In this study, we investigate the various applications of titania in the medical field. Titania, renowned for its biocompatibility and distinctive properties, plays a significant role in pharmaceutical formulations. It is vital in coating tablets and capsules, improving drug stability and appearance. Additionally, titania nanoparticles (NPs) facilitate targeted drug delivery systems, enhancing therapeutic outcomes. Furthermore, we explore the promising prospects of titania-based photocatalysts in photodynamic therapy, highlighting their potential to transform cancer treatment and combat microbial infections. This comprehensive examination underscores the diverse and promising opportunities in which titania significantly advances medicine.

Graphene is a remarkable substance that has revolutionized numerous disciplines, including electronics, materials science, condensed physics, quantum physics, energy systems, and many more. Its physical and chemical properties have been the subject of a great deal of research since its 2004 discovery. Because of its unique properties, it has swiftly become a contender worth investigating for biomedical uses by nano-bio researchers. Studies on graphene and related materials have attracted a great deal of interest from the biomedical community in the last decade, with a focus on their potential applications in cancer treatment, smart drug delivery, and gene therapy. Graphene oxide (GO) has many desirable properties, including a high adsorption capacity, a big surface area, biocompatibility, and colloidal stability.

To get around the problems with traditional treatment methods, researchers have been working on new drug delivery systems that include biocompatible polymers as nanocomposite carriers, a three-dimensional (3D) hydrogel network, and controlled medication release.

In this review, we compiled the latest findings from graphene's biomedical uses, took a look at the latest innovations in graphene-based hydrogels for medication delivery, and offered some exciting predictions for the future of this material's function in this field.

Cancer is the second leading cause of global mortality. Modern medical technologies, including chemotherapy, radiation treatment, and surgery, are extending the lifespan of cancer patients. The potential of nano medicine opens up a new way to get over the restrictions of traditional cancer treatments. Due to their unique basic features, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been extensively explored and used in the field of tumor diagnostics and therapy. Two perspectives are presented on the physical and chemical aspects of AuNPs' characteristics. Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), radioactivity, and a high X-ray absorption coefficient are among the physical characteristics of AuNPs that are commonly employed in tumor diagnostics and therapy. AuNPs also have some advantages like customizable size and shape, as well as various physiochemical properties. Additionally, they can effectively encapsulate drugs to enable simultaneous therapy and incorporate supplementary imaging labels. Recent research has emphasized the use of multifunctional AuNPs in techniques that involve simultaneous diagnosis and therapy. This article explores the use of AuNPs in cancer diagnosis and treatment, detailing clinical trials and providing insights for researchers on their physiochemical properties.

Breast cancer is one of the most widespread and lethal malignancies afflicting females globally. The global incidence of breast cancer is on the rise, with an anticipated 4.4 million cases by 2070. Notably, breast cancer constitutes approximately 25% of all cancer diagnoses. In the realm of biomedical sciences, nanotechnology has ushered in a transformative era, particularly in cancer therapy and diagnostics. Nanoparticles offer the capability to tailor specific sizes, with elevated surface-to-volume ratios proving advantageous for drug distribution by ensuring a substantial medicines loading volume. Gold nanoparticles exhibit a remarkable selectivity for cancer cells, primarily attributed to the heightened permeability and retaining effects. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of gold nanoparticles in breast cancer therapy, comparing them with traditional techniques from previous research and elucidating their mechanism of action. Data for analysis were sourced from various platforms, including Web of Science and Google Scholar, comprising previously published information. Analysis revealed that historical studies employed conventional techniques for breast cancer therapy. However, contemporary approaches now favor nanomedicine, incorporating diverse drugs and delivery systems, surpassing traditional methods. In summary, nanomedicine emerges as an exceptionally effective mode of breast cancer treatment when juxtaposed with conventional approaches. Previous research also underscores the efficacy of gold nanoparticles as a viable treatment modality. Currently, a spectrum of nanomedicines, including gold nanoparticles, serves as a promising avenue for suppressing tumor development in breast cancer patients

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), typically ranging in size from 10 to 1000 nm, are synthesize through physical, chemical, or biological methods. The biological approach, which often uses plant extracts, microbes, or fungi, is recommended for its eco-friendliness and lower dangers, while physical and chemical procedures can be costly and potentially dangerous. AgNPs are widely used in treatments and diagnostics in the medical field. Their exceptional antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anticancer, antiangiogenic, leishmanicidal, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antioxidant, and anthelmintic action are just a few of their special qualities. However, AgNPs do have certain disadvantages due to worries about their nanotoxicity. This thorough study covers a wide range of AgNP topics, including their synthesis, properties, factors affecting particle size, and modes of action. Additionally, it covers their uses in the medical field, any potential toxicity issues, and the difficulties associated with their application.

Diabetic wounds represent a significant clinical challenge due to their chronic nature, slow healing rates, and susceptibility to infections, often leading to severe complications. Nanotechnology plays a transforming role in advancing diabetic wound repair therapies. The field of nanotechnology has shown great promise in the medical field in recent years, offering precise tools and materials at the nanoscale to address the complexities of diabetic wound management. The latest breakthroughs in nanomaterial design and fabrication showcase nanoparticles, nanofibers, and hydrogels tailored to enhance tissue regeneration, promote angiogenesis, and modulate the wound microenvironment. These engineered materials serve as versatile systems for the regulated release of cytokines and antimicrobial agents, offering a multifaceted approach to diabetic wound healing. Nanotechnology enables the growth of smart medication delivery technologies with accurate targeting and sustained delivery of medicinal substances right to the location of the wound. Prolonged injuries in hyperglycemic patients are particularly prone to infections, leading to prolonged healing times and increased morbidity. Some of the nanoscale antimicrobial agents, such as nanozyme-chitosan-derived hydrogel, silver nanoparticles, and antimicrobial peptides that exhibit potent bactericidal properties, reduce the risk of infections and associated complications. Nanosensors and advanced imaging techniques enable real-time monitoring of wound healing progress. These tools provide clinicians with valuable insights into tissue viability, inflammation levels, and treatment efficacy, facilitating timely adjustments to therapeutic regimens. This is an inclusive overview of the current state of nanotechnology for the treatment of diabetic wounds, offering insights into the promise and challenges of this innovative approach, by harnessing the unique properties of nanoscale materials and technologies.

Hydrophilic drugs are proficient therapeutic drug candidates; however, their effective delivery poses a formidable challenge. Therefore, the development of an efficient drug delivery system demands a multifaceted approach. In recent decades, nanolipid carriers have emerged as promising drug delivery systems, offering enhanced stability, improved bioavailability, and controlled release profiles. Although nanolipid carriers have been widely investigated as carriers for hydrophobic drugs and have demonstrated remarkable success in encapsulating hydrophobic drugs, encapsulating a hydrophilic drug moiety still remains a challenge.

The current study provides a comprehensive review of innovative methods developed for the successful encapsulation of hydrophilic drugs into nanolipid carriers. The first section of the study explores the physicochemical properties of hydrophilic drugs and the inherent challenges associated with their encapsulation in lipid-based carriers. The subsequent sections delve into the various strategies employed to overcome these challenges. Emphasis is placed on novel formulation techniques investigated for the encapsulation of hydrophilic drugs into nano lipid carriers. The present review not only delineates the various traditional methods for high entrapment of hydrophilic drugs but also underscores modifications to the hydrophilic drug candidates, facilitating their efficient encapsulation into nanolipid carrier drug carriers.

This study explores the current state of knowledge regarding methods for encapsulating hydrophilic drugs into nanolipid carriers. By addressing the challenges associated with hydrophilic drug encapsulation and presenting innovative strategies, this review aims to provide valuable insights to researchers and pharmaceutical scientists working in the field of nanomedicine and drug delivery.