Pharmaceutical particulates and membranes possess promising prospects for delivering drugs and bioactive molecules with the potential to improve drug delivery strategies like sustained and controlled release. For example, inorganic-based nanoparticles such as silica-, titanium-, zirconia-, calcium-, and carbon-based nanomaterials with dimensions smaller than 100 nm have been extensively developed for biomedical applications. Furthermore, inorganic nanoparticles possess magnetic, optical, and electrical properties, which make them suitable for various therapeutic applications including targeting, diagnosis, and drug delivery. Their properties may also be tuned by controlling different parameters, e.g., particle size, shape, surface functionalization, and interactions among them. In a similar fashion, membranes have several functions which are useful in sensing, sorting, imaging, separating, and releasing bioactive or drug molecules. Engineered membranes have been developed for their usage in controlled drug delivery devices. The latest advancement in the technology is therefore made possible to regulate the physico-chemical properties of the membrane pores, which enables the control of drug delivery. The current review aims to highlight the role of both pharmaceutical particulates and membranes over the last fifteen years based on their preparation method, size, shape, surface functionalization, and drug delivery potential.

Obesity has reached an epidemic proportion in the last thirty years, and it is recognized as a major health issue in modern society now with the possibility of serious social and economic consequences. By the year 2030, nearly 60% of the global population may be obese or overweight, which emphasizes a need for novel obesity treatments. Various traditional approaches, such as pharmacotherapy and bariatric surgery, have been utilized in clinical settings to treat obesity. However, these methods frequently show the possibility of side effects while remaining ineffective. There is, therefore, an urgent need for alternative obesity treatments with improved efficacy and specificity. Polymeric materials and chemical strategies are employed in emerging drug delivery systems (DDSs) to enhance therapy effectiveness and specificity by stabilizing and controlling the release of active molecules such as natural ingredients. Designing DDSs is currently a top priority research objective with an eye towards creating obesity treatment approaches. In reality, the most recent trends in the literature demonstrate that there are not enough in-depth reviews that emphasize the current knowledge based on the creation and design of DDSs for obesity treatment. It is also observed in the existing literature that a complex interplay of different physical and chemical parameters must be considered carefully to determine the effectiveness of the DDSs, including microneedles, for obesity treatment. Additionally, it is observed that these properties depend on how the DDS is synthesized. Although many studies are at the animal-study stage, the use of more advanced DDS techniques would significantly enhance the development of safe and efficient treatment approaches for obese people in the future. Considering these, this review provides an overview of the current anti-obesity treatment approaches as well as the conventional anti-obesity therapeutics. The article aims to conduct an in-depth discussion on the current trends in obesity treatment approaches. Filling in this knowledge gap will lead to a greater understanding of the safest ways to manage obesity.

Despite advancements in clinical diagnostics, traditional biomarker detection methods (e.g., ELISA) remain limited due to their invasive nature, slow results, and inadequate use for continuous monitoring in low-resource settings. With the rise in chronic, infectious, and metabolic diseases, there is a pressing demand for real-time, minimally invasive diagnostic tools. Nanoengineered microneedle (MN) biosensors offer a promising solution. These painless devices can access interstitial fluid (ISF), a rich source of biomarkers, while utilizing advanced nanomaterials for high sensitivity and multiplexed detection. When combined with AI, IoT connectivity, and cloud-based analytics, MN biosensors enable personalized health data and continuous disease management. This review outlines recent advances in MN technology, including innovations in design and nanomaterial integration, as well as translational challenges like manufacturing scalability and regulatory approval. We explore how MN designs incorporating various sensing modalities can facilitate real-time monitoring of biomarkers such as glucose, lactate, and inflammatory proteins. Importantly, we discuss how these devices can improve healthcare access, reduce costs, and empower patients through everyday monitoring. This review integrates developments in MN engineering with biosensing and therapeutics, positioning biosensor-integrated MNs as pivotal in enabling continuous, minimally invasive disease monitoring and personalized therapy beyond traditional hospital environments.