The International University of Sarajevo (IUS) is a private university located in the capital city Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The university was established by the Foundation for the Development of Education in 2004–2005.[citation needed] IUS is open to students from all over the world, and the language of instruction and communication is English. It offers four year education according to Bologna system (model 4+1+3 with B.S. and B.A. diplomas). IUS has 1650 students from 55 countries and faculty members from 20 countries performing academic and research activities in various disciplines of Science, Engineering, Arts and Social Sciences. The first generation of 32 IUS graduates received their diplomas on June 26, 2009. IUS offers many types of scholarships, especially for students from Bosnia and Herzegovina. IUS has both modern and large campus for the region..
The growing global demand for effective and safe therapeutics has accelerated advances in biomaterials for drug delivery applications. Biomaterials, including polymers, metals, ceramics, and composites, play a central role in modern medical devices and therapeutic systems by enabling controlled interactions with biological environments. Initially defined as inert materials interfacing with biological systems, biomaterials are now rationally engineered to treat, replace, or evaluate tissue and organ functions. Recent progress in regenerative medicine, nanotechnology, and precision healthcare has expanded their use in drug delivery, where tunable physicochemical properties-such as degradation kinetics, surface chemistry, and mechanical stability-allow controlled release, protection of labile therapeutics, and enhanced accumulation at target sites. Polymer-based biomaterials enable sustained drug release through diffusion-controlled, degradation-mediated, or stimulus-responsive mechanisms, thereby extending therapeutic exposure and reducing systemic dosing frequency compared with conventional formulations. Nanostructured carriers, including liposomes, micelles, and dendrimers, further enhance drug delivery by improving solubility, cellular uptake, and site-specific targeting via size control, surface functionalization, and ligand-mediated interactions. Despite these advances, clinical translation remains limited by challenges related to immune-biomaterial interactions, batch-to-batch variability, long-term biodegradation behavior, and the scalability of manufacturing under regulatory constraints. Future biomaterial development must therefore emphasize precision fabrication, good manufacturing practice-compatible production, and biologically informed design strategies that account for patient-specific variability. This review provides a focused overview of biomaterial-based drug delivery systems, summarizes recent technological advances, and critically discusses mechanistic and translational challenges, including immune compatibility, degradation control, and regulatory compliance, with particular emphasis on their implications for personalized drug delivery.
This study examines the behavioral intention of Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina to adopt blockchain-based zakat systems. It offers novel insights from a European Islamic context. Prior studies have primarily focused on Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The research develops an SEM model on an extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology framework. Data were collected through a survey of Bosnian Muslims. The aim was to investigate how these factors influence the acceptance of digital zakat platforms. The findings highlight the potential of blockchain to address inefficiencies and trust issues in traditional zakat management. The study shows that performance expectancy, intrinsic religiosity, and trust are significant determinants of adopting blockchain-based zakat platforms. These results emphasize both technological and faith-based drivers of acceptance. Technology can enhance the trustworthiness and inclusivity of zakat administration for a broader group of Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina and similar contexts. This work contributes to broader international discussions on the intersection of technology, religion and finance. The article is laying a foundation for the future development of blockchain-based zakat platforms in Muslim societies.
Purpose This study examines green entrepreneurial intentions among higher education institution students in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Poland, Romania, and Slovenia. It assesses the interplay of several personal (e.g., entrepreneurial creativity, future self-continuity, and green cognition) and institutional factors (e.g., entrepreneurial education, entrepreneurial culture, and financial support), considering the mediating role of the desire to discover. Design/methodology/approach Based on a cross-sectional survey of 1547 students from six European countries, the study tests its hypotheses using structural equation modeling. Although countries were selected through convenience sampling via academic networks, they reflect a shared regional background and predominantly post-socialist characteristics, while also differing in their institutional and educational support for green entrepreneurship. Findings Results indicate that, with some exceptions, institutional and personal factors are positively related to green entrepreneurial intentions, while the desire to discover partially mediates these relationships. Originality/value This study presents an integrative theoretical framework grounded in social cognitive theory, constructivist learning theory, and self-regulated learning theory, highlighting the joint relationship between personal and institutional factors and green entrepreneurial intentions. It contributes novel insights by offering a multi-country dataset and identifying the desire to discover as a key psychological mechanism.
Fungal infection, particularly that caused by Candida albicans, pose emerging challenges in aquaculture, leading to significant economic and health losses in cultured fishes. However, limited research has explored eco-friendly antifungal alternatives for Clarias gariepinus, a species of high commercial value and susceptibility to fungal pathogens. This study aimed to isolate and identify marine-derived Actinobacteria capable of producing potent antifungal compounds effective against C. albicans. An initial screening of 30 Actinobacteria isolates obtained from thirty marine samples collected from Marsa Alam, Egypt was conducted. Among these, Streptomyces zaomyceticus (PQ395286) was identified as a producer of lucidin (1,3-diethoxy-1,1,3,3-tetramethyl lucidin), a novel bioactive metabolite with strong antifungal activity. In vitro assays demonstrated that lucidin inhibited C. albicans (ATCC 10221) with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.5 μg/mL as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. To evaluate its in vivo efficacy, C. gariepinus were randomly divided into four groups (three replicates each, 10 fish per replicate). Group 1 served as the negative control (no infection or treatment); Group 2 received lucidin exposure at 100 μg/L through water administration; Group 3 was intraperitoneally infected with C. albicans (3.6 × 104 CFU/fish); and Group 4 was both infected and treated with lucidin. Lucidin treatment markedly alleviated infection-induced alterations in hepatorenal biomarkers, nonspecific immunity, and antioxidant status. It significantly enhanced nitric oxide (NO) production, lysozyme (LYZ) activity, and overall antioxidant capacity. Histological observations confirmed that lucidin effectively restored the normal architecture of the liver, kidney, and spleen. Collectively, these findings highlight lucidin as a promising natural antifungal agent that can effectively mitigate C. albicans infection in C. gariepinus, thereby contributing to the development of sustainable antifungal strategies in aquaculture.
CardioPharmaGENET COST Action network aims to advance personalized medicine in cardiovascular care by leveraging pharmacogenomics (PGx) to optimize drug therapies. In cardiovascular medicine, this approach is especially critical, given the significant patient variability in drug responses to therapies. The main goal is to establish a pan-European network that addresses several key challenges that hinder the widespread adoption of PGx in cardiovascular care. These challenges include the lack of a centralized knowledge hub for clinicians and policymakers, insufficient integration of PGx into clinical practice, and inconsistent policy frameworks across Europe. The project also seeks to utilize AI and machine learning to streamline the analysis of large-scale genomic data and enhance clinical decision-making. The network includes five working groups (WG) to tackle these issues: WG1 evaluates the current landscape of cardiovascular PGx, identifying key gaps in research, clinical integration, and available resources; WG2 develops optimized guidelines for applying PGx in cardiovascular therapies, focusing on patient stratification based on genetic and demographic profiles; WG3 focuses on advancing digital and AI tools to improve PGx data analysis and implementation in clinical settings; WG4 analyzes regulatory frameworks across Europe, proposing policy changes to facilitate seamless integration of PGx into healthcare systems; WG5 handles communication, dissemination, and stakeholder engagement, ensuring that findings and guidelines are accessible to all stakeholders, including clinicians, researchers, and policymakers. By addressing these challenges, the network will help bridge the gap between PGx research and clinical practice, improving cardiovascular patient outcomes and promoting equitable healthcare access across Europe. This manuscript represents the COST Association-approved Memorandum of Understanding of COST Action CA24165 CardioPharmaGENET.
