Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly aggressive form of brain cancer that is difficult to treat due to its resistance to both radiation and chemotherapy. This resistance is largely due to the unique biology of GBM cells, which can evade the effects of conventional treatments through mechanisms such as increased resistance to cell death and rapid regeneration of cancerous cells. Additionally, the blood–brain barrier makes it difficult for chemotherapy drugs to reach GBM cells, leading to reduced effectiveness. Despite these challenges, there are several treatment options available for GBM. The standard of care for newly diagnosed GBM patients involves surgical resection followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy. Emerging treatments include immunotherapy, such as checkpoint inhibitors, and targeted therapies, such as bevacizumab, that attempt to attack specific vulnerabilities in GBM cells. Another promising approach is the use of tumor-treating fields, a type of electric field therapy that has been shown to slow the growth of GBM cells. Clinical trials are ongoing to evaluate the safety and efficacy of these and other innovative treatments for GBM, intending to improve with outcomes for patients.

Nano silver is one of the most widely used engineering nanomaterials with antimicrobial activity against bacteria, fungi, and viruses. However, the widespread application of nano silver preparations in daily life raises concerns about public health. Although several review articles have described the toxicity of nano silver to specific major organs, an updated comprehensive review that clearly and systematically outlines the harmful effects of nano silver is lacking. This review begins with the routes of exposure to nano silver and its distribution in vivo. The toxic reactions are then discussed on three levels, from the organ to the cellular and subcellular levels. This review also provides new insights on adjusting the toxicity of nano silver by changing their size and surface functionalization and their combination with other materials to form a composite formulation. Finally, future development, challenges, and research directions are discussed. Graphical Abstract:

Dendrimers are used for a variety of applications in medicine but, due to their host–guest and entrapment characteristics, are particularly used for the delivery of genes and drugs. However, dendrimers are intrinsically toxic, thus creating a major limitation for their use in biological systems. To reduce such toxicity, biocompatible dendrimers have been designed and synthesized, and surface engineering has been used to create advantageous changes at the periphery of dendrimers. Although dendrimers have been reviewed previously in the literature, there has yet to be a systematic and comprehensive review of the harmful effects of dendrimers. In this review, we describe the routes of dendrimer exposure and their distribution in vivo. Then, we discuss the toxicity of dendrimers at the organ, cellular, and sub-cellular levels. In this review, we also describe how technology can be used to reduce dendrimer toxicity, by changing their size and surface functionalization, how dendrimers can be combined with other materials to generate a composite formulation, and how dendrimers can be used for the diagnosis of disease. Finally, we discuss future challenges, developments, and research directions in developing biocompatible and safe dendrimers for medical purposes.

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are large DNA reticular structures secreted by neutrophils and decorated with histones and antimicrobial proteins. As a key mechanism for neutrophils to resist microbial invasion, NETs play an important role in the killing of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, and viruses). Although NETs are mostly known for mediating microbial killing, increasing evidence suggests that excessive NETs induced by stimulation of physical and chemical components, microorganisms, and pathological factors can exacerbate inflammation and organ damage. This review summarizes the induction and role of NETs in inflammation and focuses on the strategies of inhibiting NETosis and the mechanisms involved in pathogen evasion of NETs. Furthermore, herbal medicine inhibitors and nanodelivery strategies improve the efficiency of inhibition of excessive levels of NETs. Graphical Abstract:

Dendrimers comprise a specific group of macromolecules, which combine structural properties of both single molecules and long expanded polymers. The three-dimensional form of dendrimers and the extensive possibilities for use of additional substrates for their construction creates a multivalent potential and a wide possibility for medical, diagnostic and environmental purposes. Depending on their composition and structure, dendrimers have been of interest in many fields of science, ranging from chemistry, biotechnology to biochemical applications. These compounds have found wide application from the production of catalysts for their use as antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral agents. Of particular interest are peptide dendrimers as a medium for transport of therapeutic substances: synthetic vaccines against parasites, bacteria and viruses, contrast agents used in MRI, antibodies and genetic material. This review focuses on the description of the current classes of dendrimers, the methodology for their synthesis and briefly drawbacks of their properties and their use as potential therapies against infectious diseases.

The most important goal of regenerative medicine is to repair, restore, and regenerate tissues and organs that have been damaged as a result of an injury, congenital defect or disease, as well as reversing the aging process of the body by utilizing its natural healing potential. Regenerative medicine utilizes products of cell therapy, as well as biomedical or tissue engineering, and is a huge field for development. In regenerative medicine, stem cells and growth factor are mainly used; thus, innovative drug delivery technologies are being studied for improved delivery. Drug delivery systems offer the protection of therapeutic proteins and peptides against proteolytic degradation where controlled delivery is achievable. Similarly, the delivery systems in combination with stem cells offer improvement of cell survival, differentiation, and engraftment. The present review summarizes the significance of biomaterials in tissue engineering and the importance of colloidal drug delivery systems in providing cells with a local environment that enables them to proliferate and differentiate efficiently, resulting in successful tissue regeneration.