Iron deficiency is the most prevalent nutritional disorder globally. Conventional treatment primarily involves oral supplementation with various iron salts, such as ferrous sulfate. While cost-effective and easily administered, these salts are associated with several challenges, including gastrointestinal irritation, prolonged treatment duration, and poor patient compliance due to adverse side effects. To address these limitations, nanotechnology has been employed to develop improved oral iron supplements with varying degrees of success. Utilizing approaches from nanotechnology and materials science, researchers have engineered diverse iron-containing nanomaterials designed to provide bioavailable iron. However, the efficacy of these nanomaterials as oral supplements is highly dependent on their specific physicochemical properties. An effective nano-based replacement for iron salts must exhibit high bioavailability for efficient iron restoration and low toxicity to minimize side effects. This review consolidates in vivo research on various iron nanomaterials evaluated as oral iron supplements. Furthermore, it proposes a framework for the ideal characteristics of an oral iron nanoparticle supplement by consolidating the current understanding of the mechanisms governing nanoparticle absorption and toxicity.
This study aimed to evaluate occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) and assess the lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) and non-cancer hazard quotient (HQ) among ceramic workers. A cross-sectional study was conducted across four occupational groups: polisher/washer, finisher, caster, and material handler. Personal air sampling was performed using NIOSH 7602 methodology to measure time-weighted average (TWA) RCS concentrations. ILCR and HQ were calculated using Monte Carlo simulation with 10,000 iterations, incorporating exposure parameters and health risk models from USEPA guidelines. The mean concentration of respirable crystalline silica (RCS) among workers exceeded both Iran OEL and threshold limit value (TLV) in all four occupational groups, with the highest level observed in Polishers (2.76 mg/m3). Monte Carlo simulation revealed that all groups had Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR) values above the acceptable threshold of 1.00E-06, with polishers showing the highest mean ILCR (5.66E-04). Similarly, Hazard Quotients (HQ) exceeded in all groups, indicating significant non-cancer health risks, particularly in Polishers (mean HQ = 114). These findings indicate a high probability of developing silica-related diseases such as silicosis and lung cancer, emphasizing the need for immediate control measures. The results demonstrate that ceramic workers are exposed to hazardous levels of respirable crystalline silica, posing serious long-term health risks. The use of Monte Carlo simulation provided robust estimates of both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk, confirming the urgent need for regulatory enforcement, engineering controls, respiratory protection, and targeted health education to prevent silica-related diseases in this high-risk population.
Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecologic malignancy in high-income countries, with rising incidence driven by obesity, metabolic disorders, and aging. While molecular classifications have improved diagnostic precision, therapeutic outcomes for advanced and recurrent EC remain unsatisfactory. This qualitative systematic review evaluates the molecular mechanisms, therapeutic efficacy, and delivery strategies of curcumin and its formulations in preclinical and clinical models of endometrial cancer. Due to the limited number of included studies (n = 9) and their methodological heterogeneity, a narrative synthesis was performed rather than a quantitative meta-analysis. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Google Scholar was conducted for studies published from January 2015 to July 2025. Eligible studies included original in vitro, in vivo, or clinical investigations assessing curcumin’s effects on EC-related outcomes. Data were extracted on molecular targets, anticancer mechanisms, delivery platforms, and study limitations. Nine studies met inclusion criteria, encompassing seven preclinical and two clinical investigations. Curcumin demonstrated multitargeted modulation of key signaling pathways including PI3K/Akt/mTOR, NF-κB, ERK/c-Jun, and Wnt/β-catenin, resulting in suppressed proliferation, migration, and invasion, along with enhanced apoptosis in EC models. Advanced delivery systems—such as liposomes, phytosomes, and nanohydrogels—improved curcumin’s bioavailability and therapeutic impact. Clinical evidence is extremely limited, comprising only two human studies with small sample sizes and short durations. These studies report modest immunomodulatory effects and anecdotal improvements in treatment tolerability, but no definitive conclusions regarding clinical efficacy can be drawn. Curcumin exhibits promising antitumor activity against endometrial cancer in preclinical models. However, clinical validation is hindered by limited human trials, lack of formulation standardization, and insufficient pharmacodynamic endpoints. Future well-designed randomized controlled trials are essential to clarify its role in EC management and support its integration into translational oncology.
CAR-T cell therapy has been transformative in treating certain blood malignancies and is also being adopted for treating other malignancies, including solid tumors. Despite its undeniable successes, CAR-T cell therapy is frequently associated with severe and potentially life-threatening side effects and toxicities, including cytokine release syndrome (CRS), immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity (ICANS), graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) in allogeneic settings, secondary CAR-T-derived malignancies, and long-term immunosuppression-induced risk of infections. Recent advances in integrating gene-editing technology and nanomedicine into CAR-T cell therapy have opened new avenues to enhance the safety profile of CAR-T cell therapy and broaden its clinical applications. Gene-editing tools enable targeted modulation of the CAR-T cells' genome, thereby improving their safety profile by preventing related side effects. In parallel, nanomedicine can be used at various stages, including manufacturing and post-treatment, to prevent their occurrence or manage them. This review highlights the current preclinical and clinical landscape, explores the emerging combinatorial strategies, and discusses future directions to achieve a safe and more controllable CAR-T cell therapy.
Bacterial identification is challenging due to several problems, such as low sensitivity, poor selectivity, and the lack of quantitative methods. To address these obstacles, a gold nanoparticles (AuNPs)@Polyaniline (PANI)/Phage electrode was developed. The bacteriophage was immobilized on the AuNPs@PANI modified electrode, serving as an electrochemical biosensor of Escherichia coli (E. coli) DH5 alpha. In application, this biosensor can detect of E. coli DH5 alpha within a dynamic range of 10-10(7) CFUmL(-1) with the detection limit of 1.0 CFUmL(-1). Modified AuNPs@ PANI/Phage electrode exhibits a signal/noise ratio equal to 3.0, but only AuNPs@ PANI displayed 1.025 in [Fe(CN)(6)](3-/4-) This biosensor selectively detected of E. coli DH5 alpha bacteria in the presence of comparable concentrations of different bacterial strains. In addition, the modified electrode exhibited supercapacitive behavior during electrochemical characterization and showed a high specific capacitance of 782.61 Fg(-1) at 1.0 Ag-1 and 94.7% retention over 10 000 GCD cycles. Further analysis was conducted using galvanostatic charge-discharge to measure capacitance and self-discharge to assess capacity retention over time, and the Dunn method to analyze the charge storage mechanism within the electrode material. In conclusion, the developed nanostructure displayed dual electrochemical behavior as a supercapacitor and biosensor. This is the first reported PANI functionalized capacitive-controlled electrodes for bacterial detection. The fabrication and detection process for a single glass carbon electrode (GCE)/AuNPs@PANI pernigraniline salt (PANI-PS)/Phage/E. coli electrode requires similar to 90 min, with an estimated material cost of U.S. $ 5.28 per electrode. Furthermore, smartphone-based testing confirmed portable, realtime detectionwith <1.5% deviation, indicating promise for multichannel clinical biosensing.
