Today, the treatment of bacterial infections is a major challenge, due to growing rate of multidrug-resistant bacteria, complication of treatment and increased healthcare costs. Moreover, new treatments for bacterial infections are limited. Oligonucleotide aptamers are single stranded DNAs or RNAs with target-selective high-affinity feature, which considered as nucleic acid-based affinity ligands, replacing monoclonal antibodies. The aptamer-based systems have been found to be talented tools in the treatment of microbial infections, regarding their promising anti-biofilm and antimicrobial activities; they can reduce or inhibit the effects of bacterial toxins, and inhibit pathogen invasion to immune cell, as well as they can be used in drug delivery systems. The focus of this review is on the therapeutic applications of aptamers in infections. In this regard, an introduction of infections and related challenges were presented, first. Then, aptamer definition and selection, with a brief history of aptamers development against various pathogens and toxins were reviewed. Diverse strategies of aptamer application in drug delivery, as well as, the effect of aptamers on the immune system, as the main natural agents of human defense against pathogens, were also discussed. Finally, the future trends in clinical applications of this technology were discussed.

Oral health problems and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance among pathogenic bacterial strains have become major global challenges and are essential elements that negatively affect general well-being. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (APDT) is based on a light source and oxygen that activates a nontoxic photosensitizer, resulting in microbial destruction. Synthetic and natural products can be used to help the APDT against oral microorganisms. The undesirable consequences of conventional photosensitizers, including toxicity, and cost encourage researchers to explore new promising photosensitizers based on natural compounds such as curcumin, chlorella, chlorophyllin, phycocyanin, 5-aminolevulinic acid, and riboflavin. In this review, we summarize in vitro studies describing the potential use of APDT therapy conjugated with some natural products against selected microorganisms that are considered to be responsible for oral infections.

Pathogenic oral biofilms are now recognized as a key virulence factor in many microorganisms that cause the heavy burden of oral infectious diseases. Recently, new investigations in the nanotechnology field have propelled the development of novel biomaterials and approaches to control bacterial biofilms, either independently or in combination with other substances such as drugs, bioactive molecules, and photosensitizers used in antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) to target different cells. Moreover, nanoparticles (NPs) showed some interesting capacity to reverse microbial dysbiosis, which is a major problem in oral biofilm formation. This review provides a perspective on oral bacterial biofilms targeted with NP-mediated treatment approaches. The first section aims to investigate the effect of NPs targeting oral bacterial biofilms. The second part of this review focuses on the application of NPs in aPDT and drug delivery systems.

Background and Aim: It is now known that bacteria are highly interactive and exhibit a range of complex cooperative behaviors, including conjugal plasmid transfer, toxins, swarming, drug resistance, toxin production, biofilm development, and other virulence traits. The development of phage–antibiotic synergy (PAS) could be a useful weapon against bacterial infections where antibiotics increase phage replication and antimicrobial activity. This study investigates the therapeutic potential of PAS in combating bacterial infections, focusing on the mechanisms and clinical implications. Methods: A comprehensive review of recent literature was conducted analyzing studies on PAS, including their effects on biofilm degradation, multidrug‐resistant (MDR) bacteria, and toxin‐producing pathogens. Key factors such as timing, dosing and compatibility of phage‐antibiotic combinations were examined. Results: PAS showed promising results in various bacterial infections. The combination of phages and antibiotics restored the susceptibility of MDR strains, facilitated the degradation of biofilms and minimized the need for high doses of antibiotics, thereby reducing potential side effects. However, challenges such as the emergence of resistance and antagonistic interactions with certain combinations remain. Key factors influencing the efficacy of PAS include phage and antibiotic dosing, timing of administration, and the physiological state of the bacteria. Conclusion: PAS has potential applications in the treatment of complex infections. Despite the promising results, further research is essential to standardize protocols, optimize therapeutic combinations and address safety concerns. Clinical trials focusing on phage selection, resistance management and patient‐specific treatments will be crucial for the translation of PAS into clinical practice.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) represents a primary public health challenge, which is a major source of pain, disability, and socioeconomic effects worldwide. Several factors contribute to its pathogenesis. Infections are an important concern in RA patients, which play a key role in mortality risk. Despite major advances in the clinical treatment of RA, long‐term use of disease‐modifying anti‐rheumatic drugs can cause serious adverse effects. Therefore, effective strategies for developing novel prevention and RA‐modifying therapeutic interventions are sorely needed.Objective: This review investigates the available evidence on the interplay between various bacterial infections, particularly oral infections and RA, and focuses on some potential interventions such as probiotics, photodynamic therapy, nanotechnology, and siRNA that can have therapeutic effects.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) using the blue diode laser (BDL) with different output powers and the photosensitizers riboflavin and curcumin on reducing the number of Streptococcus mutans around orthodontic brackets. Materials and methods: A total of 36 orthodontic brackets were contaminated with S. mutans and randomly assigned to 12 groups as follows: control, riboflavin alone, riboflavin + BDL with an output power of 200, 300, 400, or 500 mW, and curcumin alone, curcumin + BDL with an output power of 200, 300, 400, or 500 mW, and 0.2% chlorhexidine (CHX-positive control). Orthodontic brackets were irradiated with a BDL (wavelength 445 nm) at a power density of 0.4–1.0 W/cm² for 30 s. All orthodontic brackets were examined under a stereomicroscope at 10× magnification. Mean colony-forming units (CFUs)/mL were measured before and after treatment. A one-way analysis of variance with Tukey’s post hoc test was performed to compare CFU/mL between groups. Results: CHX and curcumin plus BDL with an output power of 500 mW had the highest reduction in S. mutans colony numbers (p < 0.001). The curcumin groups were more effective than the riboflavin groups. Riboflavin alone and riboflavin + BDL with an output power of 200 mW showed no significant difference from the control group (p = 0.99 and 0.74, respectively). Conclusion: Our results suggest that aPDT using curcumin as a photosensitizer plus BDL with an output power of 500 mW and a power density of 1.0 W/cm² at a wavelength of 445 nm can effectively reduce colonies of S. mutans around stainless steel brackets.