Cancer is a life-threatening disease killing millions of people globally. Among various medical treatments, nano-medicines are gaining importance continuously. Many nanocarriers have been developed for treatment, but polymerically-based ones are acquiring importance due to their targeting capabilities, biodegradability, biocompatibility, capacity for drug loading and long blood circulation time. The present article describes progress in polymeric nano-medicines for theranostic cancer treatment, which includes cancer diagnosis and treatment in a single dosage form. The article covers the applications of natural and synthetic polymers in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Efforts were also made to discuss the merits and demerits of such polymers; the status of approved nano-medicines; and future perspectives.

The culture environment plays an important role for stem cells’ cultivation. Static or dynamic culture preserve differential potentials to affect human mesenchymal stem cells’ (hMSCs) proliferation and differentiation. In this study, hMSCs were seeded on fiber disks and cultured in a bidirectional-flow bioreactor or spinner-flask bioreactor with a supplement of osteogenic medium. The hMSCs’ proliferation, osteogenic differentiation, and extracellular matrix deposition of mineralization were demonstrated. The results showed that the spinner flask improved cell viability at the first two weeks while the bidirectional-flow reactor increased the cell proliferation of hMSCs through the four-week culture period. Despite the flow reactor having a higher cell number, a lower lactose/glucose ratio was noted, revealing that the bidirectional-flow bioreactor provides better oxygen accessibility to the cultured cells/disk construct. The changes of calcium ions in the medium, the depositions of Ca²⁺ in the cells/disk constructs, and alkaline phosphate/osteocalcin activities showed the static culture of hMSCs caused cells to mineralize faster than the other two bioreactors but without cell proliferation. Otherwise, cells were distributed uniformly with abundant extracellular matrix productions using the flow reactor. This reveals that the static and dynamic cultivations regulated the osteogenic process differently in hMSCs. The bidirectional-flow bioreactor can be used in the mass production and cultivation of hMSCs for applications in bone regenerative medicine.

Heavy metals are very harmful to the environment and is toxic which affects the human health. Monitoring the heavy metal ion in food and water is necessary. In this research, we developed a FET based ion selective sensor for detecting Arsenite (As(III)) ions by a hand held device. The sensor characteristics are carried out and illustrated. This selective sensor shows higher sensitivity (35.19 mV/log [As³⁺]) than the ideal Nernstian slope. The dynamic range of the Arsenite based ion sensor is from 10⁻¹⁰ M to 10⁻⁴ M. The detection limit of this FET based ion selective sensor is below 10⁻¹⁰ M and is comparable to ICP-MS. The sensor captures the particular target ion and is not affected by the interfering ions such as Cadmium and Lead. The sensitivity and selectivity characteristics are comparatively better than the traditional potentiometric Ion selective electrode (ISE). The sensor has shorter response time and is easy to operate. This sensor is affordable for everyone and convenient to use for monitoring the food and drinking water frequently.