Chitosan, a naturally abundant cationic polymer, is chemically composed of cellulose-based biopolymers derived by deacetylating chitin. It offers several attractive characteristics such as renewability, hydrophilicity, biodegradability, biocompatibility, non-toxicity, and a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity towards gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria as well as fungi, etc., because of which it is receiving immense attention as a biopolymer for a plethora of applications including drug delivery, protective coating materials, food packaging films, wastewater treatment, and so on. Additionally, its structure carries reactive functional groups that enable several reactions and electrochemical interactions at the biomolecular level and improves the chitosan’s physicochemical properties and functionality. This review article highlights the extensive research about the properties, extraction techniques, and recent developments of chitosan-based composites for drug, gene, protein, and vaccine delivery applications. Its versatile applications in tissue engineering and wound healing are also discussed. Finally, the challenges and future perspectives for chitosan in biomedical applications are elucidated.

Lipid-based drug-delivery nanoparticles, including non-lamellar-type, mesophasic nanostructured materials of lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs), have been a topic of interest for researchers for their applications in the encapsulation of biopharmaceutical drugs as well as their controlled and targeted release. Cubosomes, derived from LLCs, are self-assembled cubic-phase bicontinuous crystalline nanoparticulate colloidal dispersions. Their lipid bilayers are arranged in 3D space such that they have an uninterrupted, regular cubic symmetrical surface, separated by two interconnected aqueous channels. Thus, they have a large surface area involving numerous internal segments, giving them a definitive advantage over lamellar liposomes in facilitating the efficient entrapment and sustained release of active therapeutic substances. This Review focuses on the unique properties of cubosomes, such as their ability to encapsulate hydrophobic, hydrophilic, and amphiphilic bioactive substances, which make them attractive for the encapsulation and release of therapeutic molecules, including large biomolecules. Controlled drug release via functionalization has demonstrated cubosomes as a potential vehicle for various administration routes. Their self-assembling properties make their production uncomplicated, with two major manufacturing methods: the top-down and bottom-up methods. Cubosomes are formed when amphiphilic lipids, such as monoolein, monolinolein, phytantriol, etc., self-assemble into non-lamellar bicontinuous cubic phases in excess water. In this Review, we have endeavored to outline the composition, preparation techniques, drug-encapsulation approaches, and drug-loading and -release mechanisms of cubosomes. Furthermore, the prospective routes for cubosomes, their challenges, and future potentialities are addressed.

Throughout history, natural biomaterials have benefited society. Nevertheless, in recent years, tailoring natural materials for diverse biomedical applications accompanied with sustainability has become the focus. With the progress in the field of materials science, novel approaches for the production, processing, and functionalization of biomaterials to obtain specific architectures have become achievable. This review highlights an immensely adaptable natural biomaterial, bacterial cellulose (BC). BC is an emerging sustainable biopolymer with immense potential in the biomedical field due to its unique physical properties such as flexibility, high porosity, good water holding capacity, and small size; chemical properties such as high crystallinity, foldability, high purity, high polymerization degree, and easy modification; and biological characteristics such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, excellent biological affinity, and non-biotoxicity. The structure of BC consists of glucose monomer units polymerized via cellulose synthase in β-1–4 glucan chains, creating BC nano fibrillar bundles with a uniaxial orientation. BC-based composites have been extensively investigated for diverse biomedical applications due to their similarity to the extracellular matrix structure. The recent progress in nanotechnology allows the further modification of BC, producing novel BC-based biomaterials for various applications. In this review, we strengthen the existing knowledge on the production of BC and BC composites and their unique properties, and highlight the most recent advances, focusing mainly on the delivery of active pharmaceutical compounds, tissue engineering, and wound healing. Further, we endeavor to present the challenges and prospects for BC-associated composites for their application in the biomedical field.

Laminarin, a complicated polysaccharide originating from brown algae, has emerged as a compelling candidate in the domain of biomedical research.

Angiogenesis is the physiological process through which new blood vessels are developed from pre-existing vessels. It includes steps like migration, differentiation, and growth of endothelial cells. Furthermore, it plays a critical role in cancer formation and metastasis. Recently, Moringa oleifera (MO) has gained interest due to its properties in various fields, particularly in nanoparticle (NP) technology. This study aims to demonstrate the cytotoxic and antiangiogenic effects of MO silver nanoparticles (MO-AgNPs). Briefly, the cytotoxic effects of MO-AgNPs on Ea. hy 926 and HT 29 cell lines were observed in the Colony Formation Assay. The antiproliferative effects of MO-AgNPs were then further confirmed using MTT assay, in addition to morphological characterization, migration and closure percent calculation. To evaluate the antiangiogenic effect of MO, the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay was done. Fertilized chicken eggs were divided into three groups: MO-AgNPs, MO ethanol extract and negative control. The results showed antiangiogenic effects were observed at 6-12 µg/mL concentration of MO-AgNPs. Whereas the plate efficiency was 45.7 % ± 1%. The surviving fraction at 12, 6, 3, and 1.5 μg/mL was 27.3± 0.5%, 30.1 ± 0.5 %, 41.8 ± 1.5%, and 69.8 ± 2.5 %, respectively. MO-AgNPs showed higher cytotoxic activity than MO ethanol extract on the Ea. hy926 cell line, where the IC50 of MO-AgNPs were 74, 35, and 12 µg/mL for 24, 48 and 72 hours, respectively. On the other hand, the IC50 of MO ethanol extract was above 200, 135 and 11 µg/mL for 24, 48 and 72 hours, respectively. Additionally, significant morphological changes were observed in Ea. hy cells. Whereas the closure percent average of Ea. hy cells at 1.5, 3, 6, and 12 µg/mL were 91.603, 88.507, 84.599, and 63.144%, respectively. Based on the results showed in this study, MO extract shows potential to be an effective anti-angiogenic agent and is a promising therapeutic option in cancer treatment.

Doxorubicin is used and highly effective chemotherapeutic agent; however, its clinical utility remains limited by dose‐dependent cardiotoxicity, presenting a significant challenge in cancer management. Growing preclinical research and clinical evidence suggest that the antioxidant vitamin C (ascorbic acid) may confer cardioprotective effects against doxorubicin‐induced cardiotoxicity. In this review, both preclinical and clinical research has been synthesized to assess the potential role of vitamin C in mitigating doxorubicin‐induced cardiotoxicity. Preclinical data have routinely indicated that vitamin C can reduce oxidative stress, preserve mitochondrial function, and modulate proinflammatory cytokine levels. Additionally, animal models have demonstrated promising results in maintaining cardiomyocyte structural integrity. In this capacity, vitamin C may be an effective adjunctive therapeutic for attenuating cardiac injury. Conversely, the clinical data remain variable, with emerging evidence supporting the notion that vitamin C can serve as a safe adjunct that preserves cardiac function during anthracycline therapy. Further investigation is warranted to optimize dosing, timing, and delivery routes and better elucidate the exact molecular mechanisms of these protective effects. This review emphasizes key molecular mechanisms, such as oxidative and nitrosative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammatory signaling, in the myocardium, and examines the role of vitamin C supplementation, alone or in combination with doxorubicin, on myocardial damage markers and cardiomyocyte viability.