Introduction: Liquid biopsies provide a less-invasive option to tissue biopsies for the early diagnosis, prognosis, and tailored therapy of colorectal cancer (CRC). CRC is a major cause of cancer-related death, and early identification is essential for improving patient outcomes. Review: Conventional diagnostic techniques, including colonoscopy and tissue biopsy, may be enhanced by liquid biopsies that examine circulating tumor cells (CTCs), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), extracellular vesicles (EVs), and other indicators present in body fluids. These markers provide significant insights into tumor biology, heterogeneity, and therapeutic response. CTCs detected in early-stage CRC have prognostic significance for disease recurrence and survival, while ctDNA investigation may uncover genetic mutations, epigenetic alterations, and tumor development. The identification of ctDNA in minimal residual disease (MRD) postsurgery correlates with an elevated risk of recurrence and unfavorable prognosis, underscoring its use in assessing treatment effectiveness. Furthermore, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) contained inside EVs provide potential prospective biomarkers and therapeutic targets, facilitating diagnosis and treatment assessment. Notwithstanding the potential of liquid biopsies, obstacles persist in assay standardization, sensitivity enhancement, and the management of tumor heterogeneity. Additional extensive research is required to determine their function in clinical practice. Conclusion: Overall, liquid biopsies serve as a potential instrument for real-time monitoring, evaluating therapy responses, and directing individualized therapeutic strategies in CRC patients.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a sustainable yeast with many applications in the food industry. Here, we study the use of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae model composed of three different industrial strains (a wine, a beer and a baker’s strain) to assess the antifungal activity of three organic plant-based extracts (Hypericum perforatum 10% w/w, Pistacia lentiscus var. Chia 20% w/w and Rosmarinus officinalis 6% w/w). Three different methods were employed (agar disc diffusion, spot assay, and growth curve analysis). Only the Rosmarinus officinalis extract (6% w/w) exhibited inhibitory activity against all the tested yeast strains in the agar disc diffusion method. In the spot assay, all extracts and their carrier oils (sunflower oil and caprylic triglyceride) exerted similar mild antifungal activity. In the growth curve analysis, all extracts significantly lowered the growth rate of the yeasts, but this was not observed for the carrier oils. The results highlighted that it is important to consider more than one method for testing the antimicrobial activity of different compounds. The three yeast strains exhibited differences in their susceptibility to pharmaceutical antifungals, and the beer and baker’s yeasts were resistant to itraconazole. Moreover, polyphenols were detected in all natural extracts which may be linked to their antifungal activity. Our results suggest that we might consider multiple use of these natural extracts in the food industry as food additives or even preservatives to delay food spoilage.

Skin aging mainly occurs due to intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Extrinsic aging is a consequence of exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Meanwhile, natural products exhibit protective properties against skin aging as well as photoaging. In this context, the research on natural anti-aging agents is greatly advanced, and in recent years, numerous plant-based products have been investigated. The aim of this study was to assess the antioxidant profile of Origanum dictamnus L. extract as well as its antiaging effects on 2D cultures of fibroblasts and keratinocytes under UVA irradiation to unravel the potential role of Origanum dictamnus L. in cosmetology. In an attempt to explore the antioxidant profile of the extract, we employed well-established enzymatic assays (DPPH, FRAP, ABTS, and TPC) and a phytochemical screening by LC/MS. According to our findings, the Origanum dictamnus L. extract possesses high scavenging activity (DPPH, ABTS), high phenolic content (TPC), and high Fe(III)-reduction activity (FRAP). Moreover, the LC/MS analysis revealed that the extract was rich in flavonoids, holding a high content of curcumin, kampferol, silymarin, cyanidin-3-glucoside, deosmin, rutin, and quercetin. To gain insight into the bioactivity of Origanum dictamnus L. extract in cell aging, the expression of various genes that are implicated in the skin aging process in keratinocytes and fibroblasts was studied. The gene expression analysis revealed that the extract increases cell proliferation in the cells exposed to UVA irradiation and concomitantly modulates the expression of genes related to the aging process in keratinocytes (KLK7, OCLN, GBA1) and fibroblasts (SIRT2, FOXO3, COL3A1) under the same conditions.

The efficient and targeted delivery of pharmaceutical substances remains a major challenge in modern therapeutics. Traditional drug delivery systems often suffer from limited bioavailability, rapid clearance, and off-target effects. Red blood cells (erythrocytes), due to their long circulation time, biocompatibility, and immune-evasive properties, have emerged as promising carriers in the development of novel nanotechnology-based drug delivery platforms.A comprehensive literature review was conducted, analyzing recent studies on erythrocyte membrane-coated nanoparticles, their interactions with loaded therapeutic agents, and their performance in vitro and in vivo. Special focus was given to applications in chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT), photothermal therapy (PTT), and immunotherapy. Erythrocyte-based nanocarriers demonstrated improved circulation times, reduced immune clearance, and enhanced targeting capabilities compared to traditional nanoparticles. Encapsulation of nanoparticles within erythrocyte membranes preserved the functional integrity of the carrier while minimizing systemic toxicity. However, challenges such as membrane stability, hemocompatibility, and the potential for nanoparticle-induced hemoglobin dysfunction were identified as areas requiring further research. In conclusion, erythrocyte membrane-coated nanoparticles represent a unique and promising strategy for drug delivery, combining the natural advantages of red blood cells with the versatility of nanotechnology.