Modern medicine requires effective, continuous, and safe therapies, which largely depend on the targeted delivery and activity of the drug. This goal can be achieved by designing drug delivery systems with improved pharmacokinetic properties and enhanced drug transport to the affected tissue. Human serum albumin (HSA) is an attractive carrier for the synthesis of therapeutic nanoparticles, several of which have already been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The success of Abraxane as an effective treatment for metastatic breast cancer and non-small cell lung carcinoma, the application of Optison in ultrasound imaging, and the use of Nanocoll as an agent for SPECT diagnostics in sentinel node localisation confirm the strong potential of albumin-based systems. Further benefits are expected in patients with soft tissue cancers, as LadRx is seeking FDA marketing approval for Aldoxorubicin. The future of oncology lies in theranostics, which combines a tumour-localising factor on one platform with a drug targeting cancer cells and a factor that activates the cytotoxicity of the drug after it reaches the target tissue. This article presents recent advancements in albumin-based nanoparticles for drug delivery, targeting, and imaging. It also briefly discusses methods of synthesis and surface modification of albumin nanocarriers to enable targeted delivery to pathological sites. Finally, it outlines the latest approaches in multimodal theranostic platforms, highlighting albumin’s potential to improve cancer therapy.

Despite numerous studies conducted by various research teams, predicting long-term outcomes (known as Post-COVID-19 Syndrome, PCS) that may result from Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains challenging. PCS affects over a million people, primarily those with comorbid conditions. Therefore, it is crucial to undertake research aimed at developing a predictive model for early diagnosis of PCS, which in turn would enable faster preventive actions. The aim of this study was to assess the value of measuring and attempt a quantitative evaluation using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) tests of three non-serum proteins, whose presence in the blood during COVID-19 was associated with severe disease progression: neutrophil elastase (NE), calcium-binding protein S100B, and neuron-specific enolase (NSE). The concentrations of these proteins were measured in blood serum samples collected before the COVID-19 pandemic from (1) patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM); (2) advanced stage diabetic nephropathy (NfT2DM); (3) a healthy group; and in blood serum samples collected two years after recovering from COVID-19 from patients with (4) T2DM and (5) NfT2DM. It was found that elevated levels of NE and NSE were significantly more common (p < 0.05) in patients with NfT2DM after recovering from COVID-19 compared to the other groups, while elevated levels of S100B were significantly more frequently observed in patients with T2DM after recovering from COVID-19 (p < 0.05). Demonstrating differences in the prevalence of NE, NSE, and S100B in individuals who recovered from COVID-19 with T2DM and NfT2DM makes these proteins important components of the developing predictive model for early detection of PCS. To our knowledge, this is the first study showing the significance of NE, NSE, and S100B in PCS in the context of T2DM and NfT2DM.

Background/Objectives: High-protein diets have gained increasing popularity in recent years. This trend has raised concerns regarding its impact on renal function, particularly among individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of this narrative review is to summarize current evidence on the effect of high-protein intake on kidney function. An analysis across species and age groups takes into account both theoretical and clinical perspectives. Methods: A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science to identify experimental and animal studies, as well as data concerning adult and pediatric populations, with special focus on those with CKD. Results: Experimental studies confirm protein-triggered adaptive increase in intraglomerular pressure and subsequent hyperfiltration, yet without any long-term negative effect on a healthy kidney. Human adult studies indicate that high-protein dietary content may accelerate the progression of CKD. Conversely, in older individuals, high protein intake combined with plant-rich diet appears to protect against sarcopenia and is associated with increased longevity. In children with CKD, protein intake should be adjusted according to growth requirements. In both pediatric and general populations, increasing the proportion of plant-based protein relative to animal protein may improve the health outcomes, although evidence on kidney function protection is insufficient. Conclusions: A balance should be maintained between excessive protein intake, which may aggravate existing dysfunctions, and overly restrictive protein consumption, which may lead to sarcopenia in older adults and impaired growth/development in children. A personalized approach is essential, taking into account age, kidney function/CKD stage, comorbidities, and, in the pediatric population, growth rate and developmental needs.