Zinc oxide (ZnO) nano/microparticles (NPs/MPs) have been studied as antibiotics to enhance antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria and viruses with or without antibiotic resistance. They have unique physicochemical characteristics that can affect biological and toxicological responses in microorganisms. Metal ion release, particle adsorption, and reactive oxygen species generation are the main mechanisms underlying their antimicrobial action. In this review, we describe the physicochemical characteristics of ZnO NPs/MPs related to biological and toxicological effects and discuss the recent findings of the antimicrobial activity of ZnO NPs/MPs and their combinations with other materials against pathogenic microorganisms. Current biomedical applications of ZnO NPs/MPs and combinations with other materials are also presented. This review will provide the better understanding of ZnO NPs/MPs as antibiotic alternatives and aid in further development of antibiotic agents for industrial and clinical applications.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles have been studied as metal-based drugs that may be used for biomedical applications due to the fact of their biocompatibility. Their physicochemical properties, which depend on synthesis techniques involving physical, chemical, biological, and microfluidic reactor methods affect biological activity in vitro and in vivo. Advanced tool-based physicochemical characterization is required to identify the biological and toxicological effects of ZnO nanoparticles. These nanoparticles have variable morphologies and can be molded into three-dimensional structures to enhance their performance. Zinc oxide nanoparticles have shown therapeutic activity against cancer, diabetes, microbial infection, and inflammation. They have also shown the potential to aid in wound healing and can be used for imaging tools and sensors. In this review, we discuss the synthesis techniques, physicochemical characteristics, evaluation tools, techniques used to generate three-dimensional structures, and the various biomedical applications of ZnO nanoparticles.

Amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) improve the oral delivery of poorly water-soluble drugs. ASDs of olanzapine (OLZ), which have a high melting point and low solubility, are performed using a complicated process. Three-dimensional (3D) printing based on hot-melt pneumatic extrusion (HMPE) is a simplified method for producing ASDs. Unlike general 3D printing, printlet extrusion is possible without the preparation of drug-loaded filaments. By heating powder blends, direct fused deposition modeling (FDM) printing through a nozzle is possible, and this step produces ASDs of drugs. In this study, we developed orodispersible films (ODFs) loaded with OLZ as a poorly water-soluble drug. Various ratios of film-forming polymers and plasticizers were investigated to enhance the printability and optimize the printing temperature. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed the surface morphology of the film for the optimization of the polymer carrier ratios. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to evaluate thermal properties. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) confirmed the physical form of the drug during printing. The 3D printed ODF formulations successfully loaded ASDs of OLZ using HMPE. Our ODFs showed fast disintegration patterns within 22 s, and rapidly dissolved and reached up to 88% dissolution within 5 min in the dissolution test. ODFs fabricated using HMPE in a single process of 3D printing increased the dissolution rates of the poorly water-soluble drug, which could be a suitable formulation for fast drug absorption. Moreover, this new technology showed prompt fabrication feasibility of various formulations and ASD formation of poorly water-soluble drugs as a single process. The immediate dissolution within a few minutes of ODFs with OLZ, an atypical antipsychotic, is preferred for drug compliance and administration convenience.

Seong Min Choi, Ju-Hee Lee, Soyeon Ko, Soon-Sun Hong and Hyo-Eon Jin. Biomolecules & Therapeutics 2024;32:708-22. https://doi.org/10.4062/biomolther.2024.146

Ovarian cancer is the third most common gynecological cancer worldwide. Due to the high recurrence rate of advanced-stage ovarian cancer, often resulting from drug-resistant and refractory disease, various treatment strategies are under investigation. Genome editing of therapeutic target genes holds promise in enhancing cancer treatment efficacy by elucidating gene functions and mechanisms involved in cancer progression. The CRISPR/Cas9 system, in particular, shows great potential in ovarian cancer gene therapy and drug development. Targeting therapeutic genes such as BRCA1/2, P53, Snai1 etc, could improve the therapeutic strategy in ovarian cancer. CRISPR/Cas9 is a powerful gene-editing tool that there are many on-going clinical trials to treat various diseases including cancer. Nano-based delivery systems for CRISPR/Cas9 offer further therapeutic benefits, leveraging the unique properties of nanoparticles to improve delivery efficiency. Nano-based delivery systems could enhance the stability of CRISPR/Cas9 delivery formats (such as plasmid, mRNA, etc) and improve the delivery precision of delivery to target tumors. Additionally, combining CRISPR/Cas9 with targeted drug treatments, especially those aimed at genes associated with drug resistance, may significantly improve therapeutic outcomes in ovarian cancer. In this review, we discuss therapeutic target genes and their mechanisms in ovarian cancer, advances in nano-based CRISPR/Cas9 delivery, and the therapeutic potential of combining CRISPR/Cas9 with drug treatments for ovarian cancer.