Photoaging (PA) is considered a silent disease affecting millions of people globally and is defined as skin damage due to prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from the sun. Physiologically, the skin is in a state of renewal and synthesis of components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). However, exposure to UVR affects the production of the ECM, and the functioning and response of skin cells to UVR begins to change, thus expressing clinical and phenotypic characteristics of PA. The primary mechanisms involved in PA are direct damage to the DNA of skin cells, increases in oxidative stress, the activation of cell signaling pathways responsible for the loss of skin integrity, and cytotoxicity. The medical and scientific community has been researching new therapeutic tools that counteract PA, considering that the damage caused by UVR exceeds the antioxidant defense mechanisms of the skin. Thus, in recent years, certain nutraceuticals and phytochemicals have been found to exhibit potential antioxidant and photoprotective effects. Therefore, the main objective of this review is to elucidate the molecular bases of PA and the latest pharmaceutical industry findings on antioxidant treatment against the progression of PA.

Water is essential for life on Earth, playing fundamental roles in climate regulation, ecosystem maintenance, and domestic, agricultural, and industrial processes. A total of 70% of the planet is covered by water. However, only 2.5% is fresh water, and much of it is inaccessible. Groundwater is the main source of the planet’s available water resources. For that reason, groundwater is a critically important resource, and is increasingly vulnerable due to the climate crisis and contamination. These challenges threaten the availability of clean and safe water, necessitating an understanding of effective and sustainable management. This review presents an overview of the concepts of aquifers and groundwater. Also, it reflects on the importance of these resources in developing countries such as Colombia (South America). In addition, it considers the characteristics of mineral waters, their uses, and associated risks, as well as their exploration and control policies. Colombia is a country with immense water and biological wealth and is crucial to maintaining the climate and availability of global water resources. Nevertheless, managing Colombia’s aquifers is a challenge, as many have not yet been fully explored. In order to achieve this, it is necessary to study hydrogeochemistry through the application of advanced technologies to analyze the dynamics, distribution, and quality of groundwater, as well as its vulnerability to pollution and climate change. On the other hand, the consumption of mineral groundwater can have health benefits, such as positive cardiovascular and gastrointestinal effects. But geogenic, biogenic, or anthropogenic elements such as heavy metals and microplastics can pose a risk to human health. The need for proper management of water resources to prevent risks to human health and the environment is emphasized. Therefore, an integrated approach to water resource management will ensure conservation and sustainable use, secure a continuous supply of freshwater, and facilitate adaptation to climate change.

Nanotechnology based detection of threat agents, such as explosives and biological agents, has been a top research priority at the Center for Chemical Sensors Development at the Department of Chemistry of the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez (UPRM). Nanoparticles are of fundamental interest since they possess unique size-dependent properties are quite different from the bulk state. When a bulk metal is reduced in size, its properties begin to change dramatically because the constituent electrons begin to suffer the effects of quantum confinement. One of these important properties deals with the extraordinary enhancement of the intensities of Raman scattering events in chemical systems called surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Until very recently, only aromatic moieties containing strong chromophores or highly delocalized pi electrons would experience such an enhancement, when in close proximity to a silver or gold nanometallic assembly. In other cases, this SERS condition was not sufficient to satisfy the enhanced Raman scattering requirements because of Coulombic repulsions do not allow an intimate contact with the colloidal suspension of nanoparticles. Recent work in the research group includes optimization of particle size, agglomeration rate and ionic strength of the SERS active aqueous colloidal metallic suspensions. Results have led to extend existing benchmarks limits of detection of 10^-7 M to 10^-8 M (10^-15 g) in DNT and to 10^-12 M (10^-19 g) in the case of TNT. Other works include preparation and testing of bimetallic nano-interalloys: Au/Ag and metallic-semiconductor SERS active colloidal substrates: Ag/TiO₂. Group members have prepared silver and gold nanorods and nanolayers in an effort to change the sensing platform: from aqueous media to solventless detection.