Since Albert Szent-Györgyi discovered it and it became used in treating scurvy, vitamin C has attracted interest in many studies due to its unique properties. It is an important cofactor in the synthesis of collagen and hormones, and it is involved in immunity, iron absorption, and processes requiring antioxidants. Thus, this review aims to emphasize the importance and usefulness of vitamin C in improving quality of life and preventing various diseases (e.g., chronic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, cancer) but also for its use in treatments against infections, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. Although the studies presented provide essential information about the properties of VIC and its beneficial effect on health, some studies contradict these theories. In this respect, further studies on larger samples and over a longer period are needed to demonstrate the therapeutic potential of this nutrient. However, VIC remains a necessary vitamin that should be consumed daily to maintain optimal health and prevent deficiencies that can lead to scurvy and its associated complications.

Severe skin injuries such as burns and chronic wounds are a subject of interest in the medical field, as they require much attention. These types of wounds are susceptible to serious complications, which can worsen the health of patients and reduce their quality of life. Hydrogels have emerged as innovative wound dressings for treating acute and chronic wounds, including burns, diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers, and pressure ulcers. These polymeric networks provide a moist wound environment, promote cellular migration, and offer antimicrobial properties, being recognized as superior to conventional dressings. This review aims to explore recent advancements in hydrogel-based wound dressings, emphasizing the state-of-the-art technologies used for this purpose and the trend of achieving personalized therapeutic approaches. Despite the promising in vitro and in vivo findings described in this review, further clinical validation and large-scale manufacturing optimizations are required for widespread clinical adoption.

Nigella sativa (NS) is an annual herb belonging to the Ranunculaceae family, also known as black cumin or black seed. This plant has been used since ancient times due to its therapeutic properties and has proven effective in gastrointestinal, respiratory, cardiovascular, infectious, and inflammatory conditions. In this review, the aim is to highlight the therapeutic effects of the plant known in Arab countries as “the plant that cures any disease”, which are provided by the phytochemical compounds in its composition, such as thymoquinone, p-cymene, α-thujene, longifolene, β-pinene, α-pinene, and carvacrol. These compounds confer an antioxidant effect to the seeds, leading to a significant decrease in ROS and a potent anti-inflammatory effect. Also, in this review, the aim is to highlight that NS seeds may have a synergistic effect with other drugs, such as chemotherapeutic agents or antibiotics, which may lead to a reduction in the therapeutic dose, may have an improved effect, and could lead to overcoming obstacles such as drug resistance. The studies provided in this review showed that NS has the potential to be a therapeutic agent both as a monotherapy and as an adjuvant. Although there are studies demonstrating the therapeutic properties of NS, there is a need for much more extensive research and more clinical trials with clearly established objectives so that the mechanism of action of the active substances in NS is much better understood. With the data provided so far, NS can be used in food and drug production in small quantities and can be administered for short periods. Further investigations may lead to an understanding of the therapeutic profile and the most effective mode of administration, as well as a clearer perspective on the toxicological profile of NS.

Since tooth loss is a common problem in humans and is widespread worldwide, dental implants are an effective and optimal alternative to solve this problem. Thus, it is necessary to develop implants with improved surfaces that favor the osseointegration of the implant into the surrounding tissues and promote cell adhesion and proliferation while also preventing and inhibiting peri-implant infections that can lead to implant failure. In this regard, this review aims to provide new insights into nanotechnology and the use of nanoparticles in creating new coatings, the new trends for enhancing dental implant surfaces, and the current technologies used for this purpose. Although in vitro and in vivo tests attest to the possible use of the nanomaterials described in this review, further tests are needed to establish the optimal concentrations to be safe for clinical trials.

Since sarcopenia is a progressive condition that leads to decreased muscle mass and function, especially in elderly people, it is a public health problem that requires attention from researchers. This review aims to highlight drug delivery systems that have a high and efficient therapeutic potential for sarcopenia. Current as well as future research needs to consider the barriers encountered in the realization of delivery systems, such as the route of administration, the interaction of the systems with the aggressive environment of the human body, the efficient delivery and loading of the systems with therapeutic agents, and the targeted delivery of therapeutic agents into the muscle tissue without creating undesirable adverse effects. Thus, this paper sets the framework of existing drug delivery possibilities for the treatment of sarcopenia, serving as an inception point for future interdisciplinary studies.

The intestine is an important segment of the gastrointestinal tract, which is involved in complex processes that maintain the body’s normal homeostasis. It hosts a vast, diverse, and dynamic microbial community called the gut microbiota, which develops from birth. It has been observed that the gut microbiota is involved in essential physiological processes, including the development of the central nervous system via the gut microbiota–brain axis. An alteration of the gut microbiota can lead to serious health problems, including defective neurodevelopment. Thus, this paper aims to highlight the most recent advances in studies that focus on the link between the gut microbiota and the evolution of neurodevelopmental diseases in children. Currently, studies show that the use of drugs that stimulate and restore the gut microbiota (e.g., probiotics and prebiotics) have the potential to alleviate some of the symptoms associated with conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Tic Disorder, Tourette Syndrome, epilepsy, and Down Syndrome. In addition, due to the challenges associated with drug administration in children, as well as the widespread shortage of medications intended for pediatric use, researchers are working on the development of new delivery systems. Liposome-based systems or solid lipid nanoparticles have been safely used for drug delivery in various pediatric conditions, which may also indicate their potential for use in the administration of microbiota-modulating therapies.