Timely diagnosis and appropriate antitumoral treatments remain of utmost importance, since cancer remains a leading cause of death worldwide. Within this context, nanotechnology offers specific benefits in terms of cancer therapy by reducing its adverse effects and guiding drugs to selectively target cancer cells. In this comprehensive review, we have summarized the most relevant novel outcomes in the range of 2010–2023, covering the design and application of nanosystems for cancer therapy. We have established the general requirements for nanoparticles to be used in drug delivery and strategies for their uptake in tumor microenvironment and vasculature, including the reticuloendothelial system uptake and surface functionalization with protein corona. After a brief review of the classes of nanovectors, we have covered different classes of nanoparticles used in cancer therapies. First, the advances in the encapsulation of drugs (such as paclitaxel and fisetin) into nanoliposomes and nanoemulsions are described, as well as their relevance in current clinical trials. Then, polymeric nanoparticles are presented, namely the ones comprising poly lactic-co-glycolic acid, polyethylene glycol (and PEG dilemma) and dendrimers. The relevance of quantum dots in bioimaging is also covered, namely the systems with zinc sulfide and indium phosphide. Afterwards, we have reviewed gold nanoparticles (spheres and anisotropic) and their application in plasmon-induced photothermal therapy. The clinical relevance of iron oxide nanoparticles, such as magnetite and maghemite, has been analyzed in different fields, namely for magnetic resonance imaging, immunotherapy, hyperthermia, and drug delivery. Lastly, we have covered the recent advances in the systems using carbon nanomaterials, namely graphene oxide, carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, and carbon dots. Finally, we have compared the strategies of passive and active targeting of nanoparticles and their relevance in cancer theranostics. This review aims to be a (nano)mark on the ongoing journey towards realizing the remarkable potential of different nanoparticles in the realm of cancer therapeutics.

Cancer is among the leading causes of death worldwide. Therefore, timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment are very important. There are many disadvantages that come with traditional cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In these treatments, the specific drug concentration affects not only the tumor site but also healthy tissues or organs. One of the foremost promising uses of nanotechnology is in the field of medical technology and specific site targeting can be achieved due to manipulation of materials at a nanometric scale. Nanotechnology offers specific benefits in terms of cancer therapy by enhancing it and reducing its adverse effects by guiding drugs to selectively target cancer cells. In addition, the use of minute amounts of medicine can lead to cost savings. Furthermore, nanoparticles can also be used as imaging agents to improve cancer diagnostics, therapeutics, and treatment management. Thus, this review has focused on the different types of nanoparticles used in cancer therapy, their action mechanisms, and their benefits and applications in diagnosis, imaging, and treatment. This review sums up the parameters that need to be considered when designing systems for cancer therapy while considering the desired characteristics of the nanoparticles from the biological point of view.

The increasing presence of antibiotics such as cephalosporins in wastewater represents a significant environmental risk. These compounds are excreted in large quantities, and conventional wastewater treatment plants are often ineffective at their removal. Consequently, the development of more sustainable and efficient treatment technologies is essential. In this study, the removal of cephalosporins from aqueous solutions was evaluated through adsorption using pine bark biochar, photocatalysis with TiO₂, and a combination of both processes. Kinetic experiments were conducted with cephalosporin solutions (15 mg/L), employing 150 mg/L of biochar, 100 mg/L TiO₂, or their combination, under continuous stirring and/or UV-vis irradiation. Samples were collected at 0 and 120 min and analyzed via UV-vis spectrophotometry. Adsorption isotherms were established for initial cephalosporin concentrations ranging from 5 to 50 mg/L. The biochar alone achieved a removal efficiency of 94.2% after 120 min. Photocatalysis with TiO₂ alone resulted in 75% removal, while the combined approach reached 95.9%, indicating a synergistic effect between adsorption and photodegradation mechanisms. Kinetic data fitted the pseudo-second-order model, and the Langmuir isotherm provided the best correlation, suggesting monolayer adsorption. These findings demonstrate that pine bark biochar, whether used independently or in combination with TiO₂, constitutes an eco-friendly, effective, and low-cost alternative for the removal of antibiotics from wastewater, while simultaneously contributing to the valorization of forestry residues.