Many therapeutically active molecules are non-soluble in aqueous systems, chemically and biologically fragile or present severe side effects. Lipid-based nanoparticle (LBNP) systems represent one of the most promising colloidal carriers for bioactive organic molecules. Their current application in oncology has revolutionized cancer treatment by improving the antitumor activity of several chemotherapeutic agents. LBNPs advantages include high temporal and thermal stability, high loading capacity, ease of preparation, low production costs, and large-scale industrial production since they can be prepared from natural sources. Moreover, the association of chemotherapeutic agents with lipid nanoparticles reduces active therapeutic dose and toxicity, decreases drug resistance and increases drug levels in tumor tissue by decreasing them in healthy tissue. LBNPs have been extensively assayed in in vitro cancer therapy but also in vivo, with promising results in some clinical trials. This review summarizes the types of LBNPs that have been developed in recent years and the main results when applied in cancer treatment, including essential assays in patients.

Cyclodepsipeptides comprise a wide variety of cyclic peptides of natural origin and are characterized by the occurrence of at least one ester linkage. The great interest that this class of natural products has elicited in scientific community is explained by their wide range of biological activities, intriguing mechanisms of action and attractive molecular architecture. For example, they display a variety of biological effects, such as immunosuppressant, antibiotic, antifungi, antiinflammatory or antitumoral activities. In addition, many of these cyclic depsipeptides represent useful tools for the research of biological processes involved in cellular regulation. The present review deals with the most interesting aspects of the biology and the chemistry of some of these compounds.

The metathesis reactions, in their various versions, have become a powerful and extremely valuable tool for the formation of carbon–carbon bonds in organic synthesis. The plethora of available catalysts to perform these reactions, combined with the various transformations that can be accomplished, have positioned the metathesis processes as one of the most important reactions of this century. In this review, we highlight the most relevant synthetic contributions published between 2012 and early 2018 in the field of total synthesis, reflecting the state of the art of this chemistry and demonstrating the significant synthetic potential of these methodologies.1 Introduction2 Alkene Metathesis in Total Synthesis2.1 Total Synthesis Based on a Ring-Closing-Metathesis Reaction2.2 Total Synthesis Based on a Cross-Metathesis Reaction2.3 Strategies for Selective and Efficient Metathesis Reactions of Alkenes2.3.1 Temporary Tethered Ring-Closing Metathesis2.3.2 Relay Ring-Closing Metathesis2.3.3 Stereoselective Alkene Metathesis2.3.4 Alkene Metathesis in Tandem Reactions3 Enyne Metathesis in Total Synthesis3.1 Total Syntheses Based on a Ring-Closing Enyne-Metathesis Reaction3.2 Total Syntheses Based on an Enyne Cross-Metathesis Reaction3.3 Enyne Metathesis in Tandem Reactions4 Alkyne Metathesis in Total Synthesis4.1 Total Synthesis Based on a Ring-Closing Alkyne-Metathesis Reaction4.2 Other Types of Alkyne-Metathesis Reactions5 Conclusions

A new type of chiral sulfur ylides has been synthesized and their reactivities against carbonyl compounds tested, showing a high degree of stereoselectivity in the formation of transepoxy amides under very mild reaction conditions.