Over the past decade, recombinant protein therapeutics have moved from conventional biologics toward highly engineered, multifunctional versions. Enabled by innovations in synthetic biology, host cell engineering, and bioprocess optimization, proteins are increasingly viewed not only as drugs for replacement therapies but also as fully versatile platforms in innovative therapeutic approaches aiming at functional reprogramming. Advances in host systems, from optimized microbial strains to mammalian and plant-based platforms, have expanded the range of proteins that can be produced with high fidelity, scalability, and safety. In parallel, modular protein engineering has delivered next-generation formats, including bispecific antibodies, nanobodies, fusion proteins, and self-assembling biomaterials, broadening therapeutic applications across oncology, inflammation, metabolic disorders, and beyond. At the same time, regulatory frameworks are adapting to support accelerated approval of personalized and complex biologics, while decentralized and flexible manufacturing models begin to emerge. This review provides a 2025 update on the field of recombinant protein drugs, integrating advances in production platforms, protein engineering, and regulatory science, and outlining how these technologies are shaping the next generation of biologics.
Hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR + /HER2 −) breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed subtype of BC, accounting for approximately 70
This study examines the longitudinal relationship between well-being dimensions (evaluative, experiential and eudaimonic) and disability in a representative sample of non-institutionalized adults from the provinces of Madrid and Barcelona (Spain). A total of 1,441 adults were interviewed in 2019–2021 and 2023–2024. Evaluative well-being was measured with the Cantril Self-Anchoring Striving Scale, experiential WB (positive and negative affect) was assessed with a shortened version of the Day Reconstruction Method, eudaimonic WB (EWB) was measured with the Flourishing Scale, and disability with the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0. Generalized Estimating Equation models were used for analysis. The results show that not having lifetime depression was longitudinally associated with lower disability. Lower negative affect, lower positive affect, higher evaluative well-being, and higher EWB were longitudinally associated with lower disability over the follow-up period. This study provides longitudinal evidence on the importance of WB for disability. It was also found that EWB had the strongest association with disability, supporting its importance as a dimension that should be measured alongside other indicators to study the effect of well-being on disability. To mitigate the impact of disability, it would be important to promote WB and mental health by reducing underlying risk factors.
Since the discovery of cisplatin, metal complexes have been widely explored as anticancer agents. Ruthenium complexes stand out for their selectivity toward cancer cells, and some of them have reached human clinical trials. The broad availability of different ligands and metals enable detailed structure/activity relationship studies. In this work, we have studied a Ru complex containing a N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand, which are also very promising ligands by their chemical versatility and reduced side effects. This Ru-NHC complex, with an additional stabilizing tethered pyridine moiety, was modified to change the hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance and has been incorporated into nanosystems, as carbosilane (CBS) dendrimers, to play also with the size and multivalency of the new metallodendrimers. The antitumoral activity of these mono- and polymetallic systems was evaluated, and assays to identify their ROS or hydride-transfer properties were performed. Moreover, mitochondrial membrane potential and apoptosis were assessed using TMRM and Annexin V flow-cytometry assays to further explore the mechanism of action of dendrimers as model compounds. The results pointed out that hydrophobic chains and multivalency are key factors to improve anticancer activity.
A paper-based electrochemical aptasensor (PEA) is reported for the simultaneous detection of extracellular dopamine (DA) and serotonin (SE) in human brain samples, enabling the assessment of neurotransmitter imbalances associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The PEA integrates a dual-selectivity strategy that combines aptamer-mediated molecular recognition with potential-resolved electrochemical neurotransmitters discrimination, allowing reliable differentiation between healthy and AD-diagnosed left prefrontal cortex tissues based on altered dopaminergic and serotonergic levels. Thiolated aptamers immobilized onto gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) at the paper electrode interface provide selective neurotransmitter biorecognition, while the distinct oxidation potentials of DA (+ 0.10 V) and SE (+ 0.25 V vs. Ag/AgCl) enable their label-free, simultaneous quantification on a single disposable electrode. The PEA read biologically meaningful concentration shifts across a clinically relevant dynamic range, spanning levels characteristic of healthy tissue to those observed in advanced pathological stages. The PEA approach highlights its potential for liquid biopsy–oriented neurochemical monitoring and supports its application in multiplexed biosensing within organ-on-a-chip systems, enabling early diagnostic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases.
