Several developments have recently emerged for core-shell magnetic nanomaterials, indicating that they are suitable materials for biomedical applications. Their usage in hyperthermia and drug delivery applications has escalated since the use of shell materials and has several beneficial effects for the treatment in question. The shell can protect the magnetic core from oxidation and provide biocompatibility for many materials. Yet, the synthesis of the core-shell materials is a multifaceted challenge as it involves several steps and parallel processes. Although reviews on magnetic core-shell nanoparticles exist, there is a lack of literature that compares the size and shape of magnetic core-shell nanomaterials synthesized via various methods. Therefore, this review outlines the primary synthetic routes for magnetic core-shell nanoparticles, along with the recent advances in magnetic core-shell nanomaterials. As core-shell nanoparticles have been proposed among others as therapeutic nanocarriers, their potential applications in hyperthermia drug delivery are discussed.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been identified as important mediators for cell-to-cell communication. Citrus-based EVs in particular offer an excellent platform for nutraceutical delivery systems, as their endemic cargo includes micronutrients (e.g., ascorbic acid), which contribute to their antioxidant capacity. Despite being extensively investigated as to their therapeutic and diagnostic potential, their cargo is inherently unstable and thus directly affected by their storage and preservation. In this study, EVs were isolated from citrus fruit using tangential flow filtration and evaluated for their physicochemical characteristics, antioxidant activity and effects on human cells. To assess how their isolation and preservation methods affect these properties, the EVs were tested immediately after isolation (from fresh and freeze-thawed juices) or following freeze-drying. A measurable biological effect of cryoprotection on citrus-derived EVs was evident, whether during or after isolation. This was more pronounced in the cell-based assays, ranging from −4% to +32% in human skin fibroblast proliferation. Nevertheless, the effects on human cancer cells varied depending on the cell line. Although these results should be considered preliminary observations, subject to further investigation, it is safe to state that any type of preservation is expected to impact the EVs’ biological activity.

Corrosion, commonly associated with ferrous materials, also affects aluminum alloys. Given the degradation that corrosion can inflict on aluminum structures, this study focuses on optimizing nanostructured sol–gel silica-zirconia coatings to mitigate the diffusion of the electrolyte, thereby also limiting oxygen availability at the substrate. Using aluminum AA2024 T3 rod specimens of 3.5 mm thickness as substrates, coatings were synthesized via a sol–gel technique, employing tetraethylorthosilicate, 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, tetra-n-propoxyzirconium, and ethyl acetoacetate as precursors. The coatings, composed of a silicon matrix integrated with dispersed ZrO ₂ particles, were applied to the substrate through the dip-coating technique. Various temperatures were subsequently evaluated during the annealing process to achieve stabilization of the coatings. Surface roughness of the aluminum samples was evaluated before and after coating, alongside microhardness measurements. Surface morphology, coating thickness, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements (conducted in a 3.5% NaCl solution to simulate a marine environment) were assessed via scanning electron microscopy, highlighting the utility of these type of coatings for anti-corrosive protection of aluminum.

Background: Electrospun fiber drug delivery systems, integrated into multipurpose prevention technologies, offer a promising solution for women facing health risks from HIV/STIs and unmet contraceptive needs by providing on‐demand protection in a single dosage form. This study investigates the potential of a multilayer electrospun fiber construct for pH‐responsive and sustained release of the HIV microbicide tenofovir (TFV) and the CatSper channel blocker nifedipine (NFP) respectively. Method: Electrospun fibers were fabricated in a stacked architecture by blend electrospinning using polycaprolactone (PCL) as the backing layer for delivering NFP and cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP) as the top layer for delivering TFV. An analysis of surface morphology, mechanical and chemical properties, mucoadhesion, drug release profiles, encapsulation efficiency, and safety assessments was performed. Results: An encapsulation efficiency of 52.13% was achieved for TFV, with a drug loading of 7.00%, while for NFP, the encapsulation efficiency was 63.86%, with a drug loading of 0.56%. The top layer exhibited a pH‐responsive release profile and Fickian diffusion in both SVF and SVF/SF environments, while the backing layer showed Fickian diffusion in SVF and a release profile closer to zero‐order in SVF/SF. Conclusion: This study highlights the potential of multilayered CAP/PCL electrospun fibers for intravaginal delivery of TFV and NFP, aimed at the pre‐exposure prophylaxis of HIV‐1 and prevention of unplanned pregnancy.