Healthcare-associated infections (HAI), or nosocomial infections, are a global health and economic problem in developed and developing countries, particularly for immunocompromised patients in their intensive care units (ICUs) and surgical site hospital areas. Recurrent pathogens in HAIs prevail over antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. For this reason, natural antibacterial mechanisms are a viable alternative for HAI treatment. Natural fibers can inhibit bacterial growth, which can be considered a great advantage in these applications. Moreover, these fibers have been reported to be biocompatible and biodegradable, essential features for biomedical materials to avoid complications due to infections and significant immune responses. Consequently, tissue engineering, medical textiles, orthopedics, and dental implants, as well as cosmetics, are fields currently expanding the use of plant fibers. In this review, we will discuss the source of natural fibers with antimicrobial properties, antimicrobial mechanisms, and their biomedical applications.

Hydrogels are promising candidates for wound healing bandages because they can mimic the native skin microenvironment. Additionally, there is increasing growth in the use of naturally derived materials and plant-based biomaterials to produce healthcare products with healing purposes because of their biocompatibility and biodegradation properties. In this study, cellulose extracted from biodiverse sources in Ecuador was used as the raw material for the fabrication of hydrogels with enhanced antifouling properties. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize the cellulose and hydrogels. In vitro and ex vivo tests were performed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of hydrogels against Gram-negative bacteria as a model. Finally, the hydrogel synthesized with cellulose extracted from pitahaya showed improved antibacterial activity when applied over pigskin as a proof of concept for wound dressing. Therefore, the present results suggest that cellulose-based hydrogels are good candidates for application as wound dressings.

Blood transfusion is the most common form of tissue transplant, and correct blood type matching is decisive for the success of this procedure. However, the availability of different blood types depends on each population, leading to a shortage of blood units from uncommon types. Then, it represents a problem for patients who need a blood transfusion because the supply for their blood type is scarce. Fortunately, researchers have been developing different techniques to engineer universal red blood cells (RBC) that could be transplanted to any human being independent of its blood type. This paper details the main features of blood transfusion and red blood cells maintenance and the two more recent procedures used to produce universal RBCs, the Enzymatically Converted Group O (ECO) and the antigen masking methods.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) remains one of the most aggressive and treatment-resistant human cancers, characterized by highly infiltrative growth, extensive cellular heterogeneity, and a profoundly immunosuppressive microenvironment. Although CAR-T cell therapy has revolutionized the treatment of hematologic malignancies, its clinical impact in GBM has been limited by antigenic escape, poor tumor infiltration, T-cell exhaustion, and significant toxicity risks. Recent advances in CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing offer unprecedented opportunities to overcome these barriers by enabling precise, multiplex genetic reprogramming of T cells. In this review, we synthesize current progress in CRISPR-enhanced CAR-T engineering for GBM, focusing on strategies to overcome immune checkpoint suppression, optimize metabolic fitness, enhance trafficking across the blood–brain barrier, reduce neuroinflammation-associated toxicities, and generate universal allogeneic CAR-T products. We also compare the genomic target spaces of candidate guide RNAs (crRNA, d10r10, X37) and highlight their predicted off-target profiles relevant to GBM therapeutic design. Preclinical studies demonstrate that CRISPR-edited CAR-T cells targeting EGFRvIII, IL-13Rα2, HER2, and B7-H3 significantly enhance survival in murine GBM models, while emerging clinical trials indicate acceptable safety and early evidence of anti-tumor activity. We further discuss technological innovations—including base editing, prime editing, CRISPRi/a, non-viral delivery platforms, and precision-medicine–guided CAR design—as well as regulatory, ethical, and manufacturing considerations required for clinical translation. Collectively, these advances underscore the transformative potential of CRISPR-engineered CAR-T therapies to reshape GBM treatment and pave the way toward more effective and accessible cellular immunotherapies. Keywords. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), CAR-T cell therapy, CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, T-cell engineering, Immune checkpoint resistance, Tumor microenvironment, Guide RNA design, EGFRvIII, IL-13Rα2, Universal allogeneic CAR-T cells, Preclinical models, Precision immunotherapy