Journals
2026 EN
Lai Yawen · Zhang Xintao · Luo Tingting
+5 more
Abstract Background Targeted delivery of biological macromolecules to the small intestine remains challenging due to their susceptibility to degradation in the hostile gastric environment. Methods This study introduces a minimally invasive, in situ injection technique for the murine small intestine that facilitates localized luminal delivery while circumventing gastric barriers. The procedure involves a small abdominal incision for direct injection into the duodenum near the pylorus. Postsurgical monitoring of physiological parameters, systemic inflammatory markers, liver function, and intestinal integrity was conducted over 72 h. Histopathological analysis was performed. The delivery of the functional protein TAT‐EGFP (Tat protein fused to enhanced green fluorescent protein) to intestinal epithelial cells was evaluated and compared with oral gavage. As a proof of concept, single‐cell RNA sequencing of the intestinal epithelium was performed after high‐mobility group box 1 administration. Results Postsurgical monitoring indicated only transient, anesthesia‐related hypothermia and minor behavioral alterations. No significant changes were observed over 72 h in body weight, core temperature, clinical severity scores, systemic inflammatory markers (C‐reactive protein and leukocytes), liver function (alanine aminotransferase), or intestinal integrity. Histopathological analysis confirmed preserved tissue architecture and normal digestive, absorptive, and barrier functions. The model successfully delivered TAT‐EGFP to intestinal epithelial cells, an outcome not achievable via oral gavage due to gastric degradation. Single‐cell RNA sequencing of the intestinal epithelium after high‐mobility group box 1 administration revealed inflammatory gene expression patterns in specific epithelial subpopulations. Conclusions Compared to traditional methods such as oral gavage or organoid culture, this technique offers precise, degradation‐resistant delivery of macromolecules in a physiological context. The model's versatility makes it a powerful platform for intestinal research, with applications in drug delivery assessment, gene therapy evaluation, and host–microbiota interaction studies.
Journals
2026 EN
Goldenholz Daniel M. · Cheng Joshua C. · Chang ChiYuan
+2 more
Objective The objective of this study was to determine whether missing individual doses of anti‐seizure medications (ASMs) elevate short‐term seizure risk in people with drug‐resistant epilepsy. Methods In a prospective, community‐based cohort, adults with drug‐resistant epilepsy (≥ 3 seizures/month) or their caregivers recorded seizures and ASM intake with smartphone applications for 10 months each. Individual level analysis modeled the relationships between ASM adherence with seizure occurrence, as well as with a simplified seizure forecast via a 90‐day moving average (“Napkin method”). Group‐level analysis with a mixed‐effects model was performed to examine the relationship between ASM adherence and simplified forecasts, while controlling for differences in individual seizure frequency via random effects. Results Twenty‐seven participants (median age = 29 years) contributed 7,853 person‐days. Individual analysis showed that only a small (n = 2) number of participants had a weak relationship between ASM adherence with seizure occurrence. Group‐level analysis showed that seizure occurrence was highly linked to the Napkin method, but not ASM adherence. Interpretation Among individuals with frequent, drug‐resistant epilepsy, occasional missed ASM doses did not measurably raise immediate seizure risk. Whereas sustained nonadherence remains a clinical concern, clinicians may reassure patients that infrequent brief lapses are unlikely to trigger seizures acutely, yet they should continue emphasizing overall adherence for long‐term seizure control. ANN NEUROL 2026;99:1076–1082
Journals
2026 EN
Ostrovidov Serge · Ramalingam Murugan · Wu Hongkai
+6 more
Chronic diseases require regular medication intake over a long period of time, which induce a poor adherence to treatment by patients. To overcome this limitation, new implantable drug delivery systems (IDDS) are being developed to allow optimized local drug release over a long period (often few months or years), reducing side effects and improving patient compliance. In this review, we provide an overview on IDDS that have been fabricated for the delivery of drugs to skeletal muscles, and to eyes. We organizes this review by IDDS types with an emphasis on recent studies conducted between 2019 and 2024. After an introduction on IDDS (including IDDS market, method of fabrication, materials used, classification, and applications), we discuss their great diversity, fabrication procedures, drug release analysis, and their operational time. Our main goal is to provide a comprehensive overview of various types of IDDS used for skeletal muscles and eyes and discuss the evolution of these systems. We concludes the review with future developments and perspectives.
Journals
2026 EN
Thai Tri Lan · Manchanda Arushi · Higginbottom Sarah L.
+5 more
In recent years, research into 3D cell cultures has grown remarkably, supporting significant advances in biomedical applications and drug development. Numerous studies have demonstrated their importance for controlling the cellular environment to better emulate natural tissue conditions and provide new insights into cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions for cell growth, differentiation, and migration. This review explores how 3D cell cultures outperform traditional planar/2D culture systems, detailing their key characteristics along with the strengths and limitations of different hydrogel biomaterials and platforms used for their formation, housing, and studying such cell‐in‐hydrogel cultures, including microfluidic and 3D printed arrangements. Finally, the review showcases recent cutting‐edge applications of 3D hydrogel models and their essential roles in biomedical research and translation, including tissue engineering, drug discovery, cancer research, and neuroscience.
Journals
2026 EN
Daneshgar Hossein · Ahmadi Sepideh · Abbariki Nikzad
+2 more
Enhancing the efficiency of biomedical compounds while reducing development costs and timelines remains a critical priority in pharmaceutical science. Inorganic nanomaterials (INMs) play a pivotal role in drug delivery systems (DDSs), where their properties and performance are central to practical applications and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. Surface coatings significantly enhance DDS efficacy, positioning coated INMs as a distinct and promising pharmaceutical class. This review outlines a framework that highlights coating strategies designed for simplicity, scalability, and alignment with green chemistry principles, distinguishing them from more complex traditional functionalization approaches. Diverse coating agents, including plant extracts, biomolecules, polymers, and inorganic compounds, are categorized according to their properties and performance characteristics. Advanced characterization techniques, integrated with biological and functional evaluations, provide a comprehensive perspective that underscores both current limitations and emerging innovations. By bridging laboratory performance with clinical translation, this review emphasizes the potential of noncovalent coating strategies for INMs in developing smart, stimuli‐responsive DDSs. Through optimized designs and innovative approaches, including artificial intelligence (AI), these systems offer pathways toward personalized therapies, enhanced targeting precision, and ultimately improved patient outcomes.
Journals
2026 EN
Seza Ashkan · Mozahheb Yousefi Kimia · Minaeian Sara
Engineering of ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) has revolutionized diagnostic imaging and therapeutic applications in medical science. These agents, comprising microbubbles (MBs) and nanobubbles (NBs), are gas‐filled structures with unique acoustic properties that not only enhance ultrasound imaging quality but also enable targeted therapeutic delivery through controlled acoustic stimulation. While available microbubble‐based UCAs have demonstrated significant success in clinical imaging and drug delivery, their size (1–8 μm) restricts application to the vascular compartment. This limitation has driven the development of NBs (100–500 nm), which exploit enhanced permeability and retention effects to penetrate tumor tissues and other pathological sites. Recent advances in UCA engineering have focused on optimizing shell composition, surface modifications, and payload incorporation to create sophisticated theranostic platforms. These developments have expanded UCA applications beyond traditional imaging to include targeted drug delivery, gene therapy, and immunomodulation. This review critically examines the engineering principles and structural parameters governing UCA performance in diagnostic and therapeutic applications, emphasizing emerging strategies for enhanced therapeutic delivery. It explores how innovations in shell design, size control, and surface modification enable more effective therapeutic interventions while maintaining excellent imaging capabilities, paving the way for next‐generation theranostic applications in medicalscience.
Journals
2026 EN
Giaretta Jacopo · Xie Xinyu (Vivian) · Spoa Sandra
+5 more
Enzymes, as biological catalysts, are widely used for their excellent selectivity and sensitivity, playing a crucial role in biosensors, offering significant potential for monitoring food products and health conditions. However, enzyme activity can be compromised by environmental factors like high humidity, pH, and temperature variations. This study explores the feasibility of improving the stability of the unstable enzyme lipoxygenase (LOX) through immobilization using silk, a naturally occurring fibrous protein. A linoleic acid biosensor is designed by combining silk‐entrapped LOX with poly(3,4‐ethyloxy thiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The findings demonstrate that immobilizing LOX with different molecular weight silks extends the shelf‐life of the freeze‐dried PEDOT:PSS/HRP/LOX more than tenfold, from less than 1 day to 10 days. The results of the characterization tests (e.g., Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, rheology) highlighted the interdependency between silk properties, such as its molecular weight, the silk conformation, and the pore shape and size, and enzyme stability. Low molecular weight silk resulted in the best performance, enabling storage at room temperature. It can therefore be concluded that immobilization with silk is an efficient method to enhance the shelf‐life of enzyme‐based biosensors, for diagnostic and other applications.
Journals
2026 EN
Dai Zhuo · Zhang Yu · Li Xiaoye
+6 more
The accelerating emergence of antibiotic‐resistant bacteria has intensified the need for innovative antimicrobial strategies. Among promising candidates, black phosphorus (BP) and violet phosphorus (VP) nanosheets have garnered significant attention due to their unique 2D structure, large specific surface area, tunable bandgap, and exceptional biocompatibility and biodegradability. This review systematically discusses recent advances in the synthesis of phosphorus nanosheets, elaborates on their fundamental physical, chemical, and optical properties, and critically evaluates their biosafety profiles. Special focus is given to the multifaceted antimicrobial mechanisms of BP and VP, including physical disruption of bacterial membranes, light‐driven photothermal and photodynamic effects, and their superior capacity for efficient delivery of antibacterial agents. Additionally, composite strategies, such as polymer modification and metal doping, are highlighted that further enhance the antibacterial performance of phosphorus‐based materials. The review also explores the latest progress in clinical and preclinical applications of BP and VP nanomaterials, spanning the treatment of infectious bone defects, skin and soft tissue infections, respiratory system infections, dental and ocular infections, and sepsis. Collectively, these insights underscore the potential of phosphorus‐based nanomaterials as next‐generation antimicrobial platforms, providing both a theoretical basis and practical guidance for their further research and clinical translation in combating bacterial infections.
Journals
2026 EN
Karaman Shaza · ElGindi Mei · Teo Jeremy
Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) are inducible, ectopic aggregates that mirror the architecture and immunological functions of secondary lymphoid organs, arising in nonlymphoid tissues during chronic inflammation, infection, autoimmunity, and cancer. Their ability to orchestrate local antigen presentation, lymphocyte activation, and germinal center reactions supports their critical roles in both protective immunity and disease pathogenesis. Recent breakthroughs in biomaterials science and nanotechnology have enabled the rational design and manipulation of the stromal and molecular microenvironmental cues necessary for TLS neogenesis, maturation, and modulation. This review collates recent advances in TLS biology with the latest developments in engineering strategies, including the use of hydrogels as scaffolding matrices, nanoparticles, and other microstructured materials, aimed at inducing, supporting, or modulating TLS both in vivo and in vitro. This review critically assess how material properties, cytokine delivery, and cellular engineering can recapitulate or enhance key stromal–immune interactions that drive TLS formation. Furthermore, the translational implications of biomaterial‐ and nanoparticle‐based TLS engineering are examined, highlighting preclinical applications in cancer immunotherapy, autoimmune disorders, and tissue regeneration. Finally, major challenges and future perspectives toward utilizing engineered TLS as customizable, site‐specific immunotherapeutic platforms for precision medicine are discussed.
Journals
2026 EN
Harberts Jann · Siegmund Malte · Wollesen Emma
+7 more
Neuronal differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) is a cornerstone for advancing neuroscience research and therapeutic applications. However, conventional differentiation protocols are commonly resource‐intensive, technically complex, and overall time‐consuming—often requiring several weeks to months to yield functional neurons. Here, a streamlined method is presented to enable fast and reliable neurogenin 2 (NGN2)‐mediated neuronal differentiation by introducing the “colony‐initiated differentiation” (CID) approach. The CID method yields functional neurons from a commercially available hiPSC line (BIONi010‐C‐13, equipped with a doxycycline (DOX)‐inducible NGN2 expression cassette) in just five days. Within the first two days of CID, the colonies undergo a structural reorganization, after which the cells are replated and mature for additional 3–5 days. The neurons become functional from day five onward, demonstrated by patch clamp recordings of action potentials. Critically, CID operates entirely feeder cell‐ and growth factor‐free. Simplicity, regular‐workday compatibility, and quality of the differentiation method using a market‐available hiPSC line make the method easily accessible to researchers across various fields. Thus, this work not only has implications for accelerating research in toxicity screening and drug discovery but particularly in multidisciplinary fields such as materials science and bioengineering, providing a robust platform to study neuron–material interfaces and interactions.