Current Pharmaceutical Design - Volume 32, Issue 2, 2026

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, which involves the uncontrolled growth of body cells. Cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs, such as tamoxifen, doxorubicin, methotrexate, and cisplatin, have shortcomings that have deprived these treatments of the desired efficiency to destroy tumor cells. Poor pharmacokinetics, severe side effects, and low targeting properties are examples of these shortcomings. Meanwhile, in the last few years, the use of nanocarriers in drug delivery systems has grown significantly. Porphyrins, also called life pigments, are classified as organic complexes. Due to their unique electrochemical and photophysical properties, they have been used in various fields, such as photodynamic therapy, fluorescence, and photoacoustic imaging. However, due to the limitations of these compounds in aqueous environments, such as aggregation by surface molecules, weak absorption in the biological spectral window, self-quenching, and poor chemical and optical stability, there are gaps in the clinical applications of porphyrins. To overcome these challenges, researchers have developed porphyrin-based MOFs. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), made of metal ions and clusters coupled with organic linkers, such as porphyrins, through self-assembly, retain the properties of porphyrins while offering additional advantages. Several synthetic approaches and significant advances have been made in the development of porphyrin-based MOFs, including combination therapies, advanced drug delivery, cancer therapy, and photodynamic therapy. Porphyrin-based metal-organic frameworks represent a transformative approach in cancer treatment by integrating multiple therapeutic functions, improving targeting mechanisms, ensuring safety, increasing drug delivery efficiency, and overcoming tumor biological barriers, such as hypoxia, and their day-to-day development promises the formation of more personalized and effective strategies.

PDT is a common and minimally invasive treatment used for certain types of cancer. Photodynamic therapy involves the generation of reactive oxygen species, resulting in cellular apoptosis and disruption of the tumor microenvironment. This review presents a comprehensive examination of recent developments in Photodynamic Therapy (PDT), detailing its mechanisms, the importance of photosensitizers, and their applications across various cancer types. Photosensitizers are essential in photodynamic therapy as they generate reactive oxygen species when exposed to light. Advanced photosensitizers demonstrate high conversion efficiency, improved tumor specificity, and reduced adverse effects. Recent advancements have led to the creation of photosensitizers that exhibit enhanced solubility, stability, and the ability to selectively accumulate in tumors. Combination therapies that incorporate PDT exhibit notable therapeutic outcomes, indicating substantial progress in the field. Recent developments in photodynamic therapy, particularly those that boost immune responses, show considerable promise in significantly enhancing the effectiveness of tumor elimination. These advancements have the potential to enhance the therapeutic application of photodynamic therapy, offering new possibilities for cancer treatment.

Antibiotic resistance poses a significant threat to public health, rendering many life-saving medications ineffective as pathogenic microorganisms develop resistance spontaneously. This results in infections that are difficult to treat, with limited or no treatment options. Traditionally, addressing this challenge involves developing new pharmaceuticals, a lengthy and costly process. However, a more efficient approach lies in improving drug delivery methods, which can be quicker and more economical. In recent years, 3D printing technology has emerged as a groundbreaking, industry-accepted technique that enables the affordable, simple, and rapid manufacturing of pharmaceuticals. This technology supports iterative design-build-test cycles, facilitating the development of a wide range of products, from simple 3D-printed tablets to complex medical devices, tailored for diverse applications. This article explores innovative strategies in the search for novel antibiotics, the development of more effective preventative measures, and, crucially, a deeper understanding of the ecology of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. It provides an overview of these issues' historical and current status, emphasizing the potential of 3D printing to address antibiotic resistance. Additionally, it discusses how to expand conceptual frameworks in response to recent advancements in chemotherapy, antimicrobials, and antibiotic resistance. The article highlights various notable efforts in utilizing 3D printing to develop antimicrobial dosage forms and medical devices, offering insights into future possibilities.