Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), such as ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn’s disease, are becoming a growing global problem due to the limitations of current treatments, which fail to address the needs of patients effectively. UC is characterized by the widespread inflammation of the mucosal lining, affecting both the rectum and the entire length of the colon. Over the past forty years, traditional treatments for IBDs have primarily relied on anti-inflammatory drugs and immunosuppressive medications. Treatment could be more effective if drugs could be specifically targeted to act directly on the colon. Conventional drug delivery systems for IBDs encounter numerous challenges on their way to the colon, such as physiological barriers and disease severity. To address these issues, pH-dependent carriers have emerged as a promising advancement, offering a more effective and tolerable treatment for UC. These carriers enable localized, targeted action, reducing side effects and preventing the premature clearance of drugs from inflamed colon tissues. pH-responsive systems are a leading approach for targeted drug release in colitis treatment as they take advantage of the varying pH levels throughout the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). By incorporating pH-sensitive polymers, they ensure drug protection and controlled release in the lower GIT. This review will discuss the advantages and limitations of pH-dependent drug delivery systems for colon-targeted drug delivery.

Since ancient times, essential oils (EOs) have been used, thoroughly explored, and regarded as products of great importance for humanity. Currently, EOs represent not only an important part of the contemporary pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry but are also considered as sources for novel drug candidates. The article discusses the applications of EOs in historical terms, the current applications, and the future perspectives. Although there are many studies that involve EOs, the therapeutic potential of EOs is not fully investigated. In the next decades it is highly likely that some compounds, isolated from EOs, could be included in the composition of novel drug candidates with targets in neurology, cardiology, or oncology. Moreover, EOs represent important key points in the development of novel environmentally friendly preservatives and pesticides.

Humic substances, which include humic acid and fulvic acid, are natural biopolymers formed from the decomposition of organic matter. There is growing interest in them because of their diverse potential in the biomedical field. Their complex structures, rich in various functional groups, provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, and immunomodulatory properties. Recent studies demonstrate that humic substances can scavenge reactive oxygen species, modulate cytokine production, inhibit viral fusion, promote wound healing, and enhance gut microbiota balance. Humic acid and fulvic acid also exhibit anticancer activity by inducing apoptosis in tumor cells, while protecting healthy tissues from oxidative stress. Furthermore, their chelating capacity underlies detoxifying activity and heavy metal binding effects. Despite promising research, variability in composition and potential cytotoxicity under certain conditions emphasize the need for standardized extraction methods and rigorous preclinical evaluation. This review offers a comprehensive overview of the biological effects of humic substances, exploring the mechanisms behind their actions and their potential biomedical applications. It highlights both the benefits and the limitations associated with their use in drug delivery systems.

Kinase inhibitors are small molecules that block kinase activity and have significant applications in both therapy and diagnostics. Recent studies suggest that these inhibitors hold great potential as targets for treating a range of diseases, including autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular conditions, cancer, and inflammatory diseases like ulcerative colitis. Ongoing research focuses on developing effective carriers for tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) to enhance treatment outcomes while reducing side effects. The nano-scale drug carriers have demonstrated the ability to encapsulate a wide range of imaging and therapeutic agents, enhancing tumor diagnosis and treatment. Notably, the incorporation of drugs with poor pharmacokinetics into nanocarriers enhances their solubility and stability, offering a renewed opportunity to assess their full therapeutic potential. The entrapped agents can be released in a controlled manner to maintain a specific drug concentration within a treatment framework or triggered by specific stimuli such as time or pH to target particular tissues or cells. The multifunctionality of nanosystems offers a promising avenue for developing innovative tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) delivery strategies that serve as alternative treatment options for cancer and other inflammatory diseases. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of innovative nano-scale delivery systems for TKIs, both as standalone treatments and in combination with other therapeutic agents or drug delivery approaches. We discuss their comparative advantages and limitations for future small-molecule TKIs research.

The current trend in consumers’ preferences for healthy lifestyles resulted in an increased demand for natural products. Many companies replaced synthetic compounds, used as preservatives, flavourings, or active ingredients, with natural ones. Nowadays, essential oils (EOs) and compounds isolated from EOs are regarded as promising and safe alternatives for many synthetic substances used as food additives, food preservatives, repellents, antimicrobial agents, etc. A great dynamic regarding the studies on EOs and in the global market of EOs was also reported. Moreover, the European market of EOs represents a significant share of the global EOs market. According to some recent reports, the European EOs market generated a revenue of more than 11 billion USD per year recently and is expected to reach well over 20 billion USD per year in 2030. The article provides an overview concerning EOs regulation in the European Union (EU). In the EU, the different product categories containing EOs are controlled under specific regulations to enhance product quality and safety. The manuscript highlights the key points of the EU legislation on EOs intended for food purposes, cosmetics, and health care.

Colon cancer ranks among the most prevalent and lethal cancers worldwide. Lifestyle and dietary factors—such as high consumption of processed foods, red meat, and alcohol, coupled with sedentary behavior—are key contributors to its development. Despite the availability of standard treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, colon cancer remains a significant cause of cancer-related deaths. These conventional approaches are often limited by severe side effects, toxicity, recurrence, and the emergence of drug resistance, highlighting the urgent need for alternative therapeutic strategies. Essential oils are a potential cancer-treatment candidate owing to their diverse composition and favorable safety profile. Numerous studies have revealed essential oils’ promising cytotoxic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects, supporting their potential role in cancer prevention and treatment. Nevertheless, applying volatile oils to the colon faces several limitations, mainly due to their low bioavailability. Furthermore, conditions within the gastrointestinal tract also contribute to the reduced therapeutic efficacy of essential oils. Novel and promising strategies have been developed to overcome the limitations associated with the application of essential oils. The utilization of targeted drug delivery systems has improved the stability of essential oils and enhanced their therapeutic potential in colon cancer treatment. Moreover, even though essential oils cannot replace conventional chemotherapy, they can mitigate some of its adverse effects and improve the efficacy of associated chemotherapy drugs. This review explores the potential of essential oils and their bioactive compounds in colon cancer therapy and highlights current advancements in micro- and nanoencapsulation techniques for their targeted delivery to the colon.