Hydrogels are a promising and attractive option as polymeric gel networks, which have immensely fascinated researchers across the globe because of their outstanding characteristics such as elevated swellability, the permeability of oxygen at a high rate, good biocompatibility, easy loading, and drug release. Hydrogels have been extensively used for several purposes in the biomedical sector using versatile polymers of synthetic and natural origin. This review focuses on functional polymeric materials for the fabrication of hydrogels, evaluation of different parameters of biocompatibility and stability, and their application as carriers for drugs delivery, tissue engineering and other therapeutic purposes. The outcome of various studies on the use of hydrogels in different segments and how they have been appropriately altered in numerous ways to attain the desired targeted delivery of therapeutic agents is summarized. Patents and clinical trials conducted on hydrogel-based products, along with scale-up translation, are also mentioned in detail. Finally, the potential of the hydrogel in the biomedical sector is discussed, along with its further possibilities for improvement for the development of sophisticated smart hydrogels with pivotal biomedical functions.

Cancer is a chronic disease, and it can be lethal due to limited therapeutic options. The conventional treatment options for cancer have numerous challenges, such as a low blood circulation time as well as poor solubility of anticancer drugs. Therapeutic cancer vaccines emerged to try to improve anticancer drugs’ efficiency and to deliver them to the target site. Cancer vaccines are considered a viable therapeutic technique for most solid tumors. Vaccines boost antitumor immunity by delivering tumor antigens, nucleic acids, entire cells, and peptides. Cancer vaccines are designed to induce long-term antitumor memory, causing tumor regression, eradicate minimal residual illness, and prevent non-specific or unpleasant effects. These vaccines can assist in the elimination of cancer cells from various organs or organ systems in the body, with minimal risk of tumor recurrence or metastasis. Vaccines and antigens for anticancer therapy are discussed in this review, including current vaccine adjuvants and mechanisms of action for various types of vaccines, such as DNA- or mRNA-based cancer vaccines. Potential applications of these vaccines focusing on their clinical use for better therapeutic efficacy are also discussed along with the latest research available in this field.

Fermented foods have been used over the centuries in various parts of the world. These foods are rich in nutrients and are produced naturally using various biological tools like bacteria and fungi. Fermentation of edible foods has been rooted in ancient cultures to keep food for preservation and storage for a long period of time with desired or enhanced nutritional values. Inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and chronic inflammatory pain are chronic disorders that are difficult to treat, and current treatments for these disorders fail due to various adverse effects of prescribed medications over a long period of time. Fermented foods containing probiotic bacteria and fungi can enhance the immune system, improve gastrointestinal health, and lower the risk of developing various inflammatory diseases. Foods prepared from vegetables by fermentation, like kimchi, sauerkraut, soy-based foods, or turmeric, lack proper clinical and translational experimental studies. The current review has focused on the effectiveness of various fermented foods or drinks used over centuries against inflammation, arthritis, and oxidative stress. We also described potential limitations on the efficacies or usages of these fermented products to provide an overarching picture of the research field.

Background Emergence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs), AmpC β-lactamases, and metallo-β lactamases (MBL), and their co-existence among members of Enterobacteriaceae pose newer diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. The present study examines the ESBL, AmpC, and MBL production by various phenotypic methods and their co-occurrence among the multidrug-resistant (MDR) Enterobacteriaceae clinical isolates. Materials and Methods Four hundred non-repetitive Enterobacteriaceae clinical isolates were collected from the Central Referral Hospital, Sikkim. The isolates were used for identification and their antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) guidelines. ESBL was detected by double-disc synergy test (DDST) and phenotypic confirmatory disc-diffusion test (PCDDT), AmpC detection by AmpC E-test, and boronic acid disc diffusion (BD) test. MBL was detected using the imipenem–imipenem/EDTA disc and carba-NP tests. Results Around 76% were considered MDR. ESBL was seen in 58% and 50.4% based on DDST and phenotypic confirmation disc-diffusion test (PCDDT), respectively. AmpC was detected in 11.8% and 13.1% using a commercial E-test and boronic acid test, respectively. MBL were identified in 12.8% and 14.8% based on MBL imipenem-EDTA and carba-NP tests, respectively. Co-occurrence of ESBL and AmpC, ESBL and MBL, AmpC and MBL was seen in 5.2%, 11.5%, 1.3%, respectively, whereas a combination of these three β-lactamases was observed in only 0.3% of 304 MDR isolates. Conclusion The findings highlight a high prevalence of β-lactamases and their co-production among the Enterobacteriaceae, mainly in Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli isolates. The study further highlights the necessity to identify the MDR β-lactamases stains for effective therapy in severe as well as mild bacterial infections, thereby enabling to reduce the risk of MDR in hospital and community settings.

The biosynthesis of nanoparticles using the green route is an effective strategy in nanotechnology that provides a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to physical and chemical methods. This study aims to prepare an aqueous extract of Ocimum sanctum (O. sanctum)-based silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) through the green route and test their antibacterial activity. The biosynthesized silver nanoparticles were characterised by colour change, UV spectrometric analysis, FTIR, and particle shape and size morphology by SEM and TEM images. The nanoparticles are almost spherical to oval or rod-shaped with smooth surfaces and have a mean particle size in the range of 55 nm with a zeta potential of −2.7 mV. The antibacterial activities of AgNPs evaluated against clinically isolated multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) showed that the AgNPs from O. sanctum are effective in inhibiting A. baumannii growth with a zone of inhibition of 15 mm in the agar well diffusion method and MIC and MBC of 32 µg/mL and 64 µg/mL, respectively. The SEM images of A. baumannii treated with AgNPs revealed damage and rupture in bacterial cells. The time-killing assay by spectrophotometry revealed the time- and dose-dependent killing action of AgNPs against A. baumannii, and the assay at various concentrations and time intervals indicated a statistically significant result in comparison with the positive control colistin at 2 µg/mL (P < 0.05). The cytotoxicity test using the MTT assay protocol showed that prepared nanoparticles of O. sanctum are less toxic against human cell A549. This study opens up a ray of hope to explore the further research in this area and to improve the antimicrobial activities against multidrug resistant bacteria.

Acinetobacter species is one of the most prevailing nosocomial pathogens with a potent ability to develop antimicrobial resistance. It commonly causes infections where there is a prolonged utilization of medical devices such as CSF shunts, catheters, endotracheal tubes, and similar. There are several strains of Acinetobacter (A) species (spp), among which the majority are pathogenic to humans, but A. baumannii are entirely resistant to several clinically available antibiotics. The crucial mechanism that renders them a multidrug-resistant strain is their potent ability to synthesize biofilms. Biofilms provide ample opportunity for the microorganisms to withstand the harsh environment and further cause chronic infections. Several studies have enumerated multiple physiological and virulence factors responsible for the production and maintenance of biofilms. To further enhance our understanding of this pathogen, in this review, we discuss its taxonomy, pathogenesis, current treatment options, global resistance rates, mechanisms of its resistance against various groups of antimicrobials, and future therapeutics.