Food packaging is designed to protect foods, to provide required information about the food, and to make food handling convenient for distribution to consumers. Packaging has a crucial role in the process of food quality, safety, and shelf-life extension. Possible interactions between food and packaging are important in what is concerning food quality and safety. This review tries to offer a picture of the most important types of active packaging emphasizing the controlled/target release antimicrobial and/or antioxidant packaging including system design, different methods of polymer matrix modification, and processing. The testing methods for the appreciation of the performance of active food packaging, as well as mechanisms and kinetics implied in active compounds release, are summarized. During the last years, many fast advancements in packaging technology appeared, including intelligent or smart packaging (IOSP), (i.e., time–temperature indicators (TTIs), gas indicators, radiofrequency identification (RFID), and others). Legislation is also discussed.

Wound management represents a well-known continuous challenge and concern of the global healthcare systems worldwide. The challenge is on the one hand related to the accurate diagnosis, and on the other hand to establishing an effective treatment plan and choosing appropriate wound care products in order to maximize the healing outcome and minimize the financial cost. The market of wound dressings is a dynamic field which grows and evolves continuously as a result of extensive research on developing versatile formulations with innovative properties. Hydrogels are one of the most attractive wound care products which, in many aspects, are considered ideal for wound treatment and are widely exploited for extension of their advantages in healing process. Smart hydrogels (SHs) offer the opportunities of the modulation physico-chemical properties of hydrogels in response to external stimuli (light, pressure, pH variations, magnetic/electric field, etc.) in order to achieve innovative behavior of their three-dimensional matrix (gel–sol transitions, self-healing and self-adapting abilities, controlled release of drugs). The SHs response to different triggers depends on their composition, cross-linking method, and manufacturing process approach. Both native or functionalized natural and synthetic polymers may be used to develop stimuli-responsive matrices, while the mandatory characteristics of hydrogels (biocompatibility, water permeability, bioadhesion) are preserved. In this review, we briefly present the physiopathology and healing mechanisms of chronic wounds, as well as current therapeutic approaches. The rational of using traditional hydrogels and SHs in wound healing, as well as the current research directions for developing SHs with innovative features, are addressed and discussed along with their limitations and perspectives in industrial-scale manufacturing.

The Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe addresses the environmental implications at all stages of the life cycle of pharmaceuticals, from design and production through use to disposal. In the last decade, “green chemistry” has transformed pharmaceuticals by promoting sustainability and reducing environmental impact. This review discusses the latest developments in green chemistry approaches, which are applied in drug design and production, including the concepts, innovative techniques, and methodologies. This review is notably built on over 80 documents and demonstrates the practical application of green chemistry principles in pharmaceutical synthesis, emphasizing successful implementation and the environmental benefits achieved. Therefore, this review discusses the positive changes brought by green chemistry to pharmaceutical production and highlights the need for further research in designing and manufacturing “greener” substances, as well as in pollution abatement.

This study presents the production, characterization, and application of celandine (Chelidonium majus L.) extracts (aqueous, acidic, alcoholic, and ultrasound) on wool fibers and their characterization. The study aims to obtain an ecologically dyed wool support that possesses biocompatible and antimicrobial activities. The plant extracts were characterized based on pH, total polyphenol content, and berberine content. Ecologically dyed wool supports were characterized based on scanning electron microscopy, levelness index, color measurements, contact angle indirect biocompatibility, and antibacterial analysis. According to the obtained results, celandine extract can be considered a potential candidate for the sustainable dyeing and functionalization of wool fibers.

This study reports the development and characterization of chitosan–poly(vinyl alcohol) (CH/PVA) nanofibers (NFs), functionalized with bioactive compounds (ACs) relevant for wound healing and tissue regeneration. CH/PVA NFs loaded with L-arginine (ARG), allantoin (ALA), royal jelly (RJ) and curcumin (CUR), either as single or co-loaded systems, were prepared by electrospinning. The polymer solutions were characterized in terms of key physicochemical properties relevant to electrospinning. The CH/PVA@ACs NFs were characterized morphologically and structurally through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Additionally, surface-related, physical, and functional properties such as wettability, swelling behavior, and in vitro release profiles were examined. The NFs were successfully produced in a uniform and continuous manner, with the fiber diameter and morphology being influenced by the type of ACs. FTIR analysis validated the characteristic functional groups linked to both the polymeric matrix and ACs. The nanofibrous systems demonstrated a high swelling capacity and a release behavior that is dependent on pH. Analyses of surface free energy and wettability revealed favorable interfacial interactions between solid and liquid, indicating compatibility with aqueous biological environments. In summary, the developed CH/PVA@ACs NFs exhibited appropriate morphological, structural, surface, and functional properties, underscoring their potential as effective materials for wound dressings.

Background and Objectives: Breast cancer remains one of the most common malignancies worldwide, and early detection plays a crucial role in improving treatment outcomes and reducing mortality. Several experimental studies using animal models of breast cancer have explored the potential of terahertz-based technologies in this field. However, their preclinical evidence base in breast cancer remains heterogeneous and has not been systematically synthesized with a focus on experimental models, imaging protocols, and barriers to translation. Methods: We conducted a descriptive systematic review, according to PRISMA guidelines, of 10 articles selected from a total of 372 identified across four databases—PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane—regarding the diagnostic performance of terahertz (THz) imaging in breast cancer animal models. We included studies that used rodent models diagnosed with breast cancer, subsequently confirmed through histological examination, and extracted relevant data. Results: The results were synthesized using a narrative approach. Most studies used C57BL/6J mice with E0771 cell line-induced breast tumors, with histopathology as the reference standard. In the reflection mode, at frequencies between 0.1 and 4 THz, the identification of tumoral, fibrous, fat, and muscle tissues was possible. Conclusions: Overall, the available preclinical evidence supports THz imaging as a promising proof-of-concept approach for breast tissue characterization, but not yet as a standardized or clinically translatable diagnostic platform. Future studies should use harmonized animal models, standardized acquisition and specimen-handling protocols, transparent reporting of classification workflows, and consistent outcome metrics to enable comparison across studies and to clarify the biological and biophysical determinants of THz contrast in breast cancer.