The local application of broad-spectrum antibiotics via polymeric drug delivery systems is a promising alternative to their systemic administration in wound healing, prevention and treatment of infections associated with surgical implants. However, low and poorly controlled loading efficiency and 100% burst release are common problems for the materials with weak physical interaction between antibiotics and polymeric matrices. Here, we report a new multifunctional carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) cryogel, which efficiently prevents bacterial adhesion to the surface, kills bacteria in the solution via controlled release of ciprofloxacin (CIP), and promotes fibroblast proliferation. The suggested approach is based on CIP loading to Zn²⁺-chelated CMC cryogel via the ligand exchange reaction. We have shown that, due to the strong binding of Zn²⁺ to CMC, the antibacterial effect and toxicity to fibroblasts of CMC-Zn-CIP cryogels were mainly determined by the content of loaded CIP, which can be precisely controlled via Zn²⁺ content in cryogel. CMC cryogels containing 20 mgZn/g can be loaded with CIP amounts sufficient to completely suppress the growth of hospital strain Klebsiella oxytoca with MIC of 0.125 µg/mL, while maintaining a fibroblast viability at the level of 85–90%.

The review examines the formation of inflammasome-mediated mechanisms of systemic inflammation in asthma after COVID-19. It provides insight into the clinical and pathophysiological relationship between asthma and COVID-19. The review summarizes information about the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in the pathogenesis of asthma and describes in detail its manifestations in various asthma phenotypes. Emphasizing the significance of the inflammatory-mediated immune response during coronavirus infection in patients with bronchopulmonary pathology, the review outlines the consequences of hyperactivation of the NLRP3 pathway, leading to increased production of cytokines, the appearance of neutrophil and monocyte-derived traps, induction of pyroptosis and the development of complications.

Loading of antibiotics to the biodegradable polymers is a straightforward approach to design drug-delivery systems for prevention and treatment of infections, associated with surgical implants. Recently, composites containing Zn2+ ions and antibiotics in polymeric matrices have gained attention as multifunctional materials, which are capable to modulate antimicrobial activity and bioavailability of antibiotics and promote the vascular remodeling, and collagen deposition. Here we suggest a novel approach to fabrication of antimicrobial CMC-Zn-CIP cryogel via stepwise Zn2+ and ciprofloxacin (CIP) loading to supermacroporous carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) scaffolds cross-linked with diglycidyl ether of 1,4-butanediol with inherent antifouling properties against biofilm formation. To find a balance between antimicrobial activity and biocompatibility of CMC-Zn-CIP cryogels, cytotoxicity to the fibroblasts and antibacterial properties against clinically isolated strain of Klebsiella oxytoca were investigated in vitro for Zn2+, CIP, and cryogels with different loadings of Zn and CIP. Kinetics of CIP release from the composite cryogels was fitted with Korsmeyer–Peppas model, the release exponent value of 0.69-0.70 indicates non-Fickian diffusion mechanism. Relatively fast initial release of CIP with the half-life time of 60-123 min and release of 78±1% of CIP after 72 h in PBS buffer at 37°C are potentially beneficial to prevent development of implant-associated infections.

Аsthma is associated with systemic inflammation, an important role in the development of which is played by lipid metabolism disorders, in particular, changes in the physiological balance of essential fatty acids (FAs). The balance of ω3 and ω6 polyunsaturated fatty acids depends on their adequate exogenous intake and endogenous processing with the participation of FA desaturases and elongase enzymes. Desaturases are encoded by FA desaturase genes (FADS), elongases by elongase genes (ELOVL). Most studies have focused on FADS gene polymorphisms that can alter the exogenous synthesis of PUFAs, which underlies the disruption of the formation of pro-inflammatory and pro-resolving lipid mediators responsible for the development of chronic inflammation. However, the mechanisms underlying the predisposition of carriers of polymorphic variants of FADS genes to the development of asthma are unknown. Evidence is emerging that ELOVL is involved in the pathophysiology of аsthma. Other genes associated with the development of аsthma, atopy, and PUFA metabolism have recently been discovered, the genes of members of the prolyl oligopeptidase family DPP10 and CD26/DPP4. Identification of carriers of these gene polymorphisms will allow to review and supply modern methods of treating asthma. The health effects of dietary ω3 and ω6 PUFAs may also vary depending on genetic variants in genes associated with PUFA metabolism. This raises the question of the need to study the genetic component in the formation of the body’s response to the development of systemic inflammation in asthma and methods of its correction through nutritional PUFAs. The aim. To summarize the current understanding of the association of polymorphism of FADS, ELOVL genes and other genes associated with PUFA metabolism with lipid metabolism disorders and their role in the development of аsthma based on an analysis of articles published before 2024 in the PubMed database.