Millions of people worldwide suffer from asthma, a chronic respiratory disease. Conventional medication prescriptions are symptomatic, but side effects limit long-term use. But because of their long history and diverse range of molecular actions, herbal therapies may offer a supportive treatment option. This review examines how herbal remedies have developed for asthma, emphasizing how they work molecularly on primary receptor targets. Evidence for herbal remedies, including Ephedra sinica, Boswellia serrata, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Tylophora indica, Adhatoda vasica, Ginkgo biloba, and Scutellaria baicalensis, and many more is reviewed. It focuses on encouraging clinical evidence and effectiveness supporting the value of herbal remedies as therapeutic adjuncts or substitutes. In order to optimize the potential of herbal therapies in the management of asthma, we discuss future directions and emphasize the necessity of thorough research. This review aims to encourage more research and the use of herbal medicine in asthma treatment, giving patients who require supplemental treatments new hope.
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that is known to cause hyperproliferation of keratinocytes and the formation of erythematous scaly plaques. Although apremilast in the form of a phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor is used to treat plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, it is known to produce systemic side effects and is less patient-compliant. The aim of the current study is to formulate and optimise the formulation of apremilast-loaded cubosomes suspensions in gel vehicles. This is to enhance the drug solubility, the permeability of the drug across the skin, and the sustained release of the drug. Apremilast-loaded cubosomes were formulated by a sonication method with a lipid phase composed of glycerol monooleate and a surfactant phase consisting of a stabilising agent, i.e., Poloxamer 407. The processing-related factors for apremilast-loaded cubosomes were optimised, considering a central composite design. The drug permeation behaviour revealed a sustained release pattern under in vitro studies. The optimised apremilast-loaded cubosomes have a particle size distribution, given as 53.95 ± 0.23 nm, with a corresponding polydispersity index of 0.268 ± 0.021, to be appropriate for their topical application. The result namely, a significant increase in drug permeation, twice that achieved by a conventional apremilast-containing gel, was highlighted during in vivo studies. The cubosomal gel was further found to demonstrate excellent biocompatibility, as confirmed by skin irritation studies, providing a sense of comfort to patients, hence increasing compliance. The drug also reduced symptoms in imiquimod-induced psoriatic animal models. In summary, the newly formulated apremilast-containing cubosomal gel has the potential to circumvent the use of the orally administered drug by addressing the physicochemical constraints of apremilast from the viewpoint of solubility, permeability, and bioavailability. The absence of skin irritation in addition to its higher therapeutic effectiveness in an animal model further proves the worth of the formulated drug. It is recommended to further explore the translational study of the drug to test its applicability in real-world cases.
An important regulator of tumor immunosurveillance and innate immune activation in gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies is the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS-STING) pathway. The release of type I interferons, dendritic cell (DC) maturation, and cytotoxic T lymphocyte recruitment are the final steps of a pathway that is typically set in motion by aberrant DNA damage, microbiome-derived DNA, or mitochondrial stress. Tumour has it that immunologically “cold” gastrointestinalcancers can be made more sensitive to immune-checkpoint blockade (ICB), radiation, and chemotherapy by therapeutically activating the cGAS-STING pathway, which turns them into inflamed, T-cell-permissive niches. Progress in nanomedicine, small-molecule STING agonists, and tumour-microenvironment-responsive drug delivery systems has broadened the translational scope of this pathway across colorectal, gastric, and pancreatic malignancies. However, tumour-intrinsic heterogeneity, the dual immunostimulatory and immunosuppressive functions of chronic STING signalling, and delivery-related toxicities continue to pose substantial challenges. This review consolidates current mechanistic insights, preclinical evidence, and emergent clinical data regarding the cGAS–STING pathway in gastrointestinal cancers, while emphasising biomarker-guided patient stratification and AI-powered predictive tools that could facilitate the precise application of STING-targeted therapies.
Colon cancer (CC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, and its poor prognostic outcome can be attributed to factors such as late diagnosis, tumor heterogeneity, and the failure of conventional chemotherapeutic therapies. Biomimetic nanomaterials that can mimic biological behaviors have recently generated transformative drug carriers with higher biocompatibility, evasion of the immune system, and tumor-seeking capabilities. In this review, recent progresses in biomimetic systems are summarized, such as cell membrane-coated nanoparticles, exosome-based carriers, and ligand-modified nanostructures, with a particular focus on their design paradigm and drug delivery mechanisms and the therapeutic potentiality in CC. Although preclinical investigations reveal potential response, translational barriers to clinical application remain considerable including but not limited to scalability in nanomaterial manufacturing, batch variability in produced materials, and regulatory challenges under FD/EMA regulation. Possible solutions involve cost-effective and scalable macrofluidic and automated bioreactor technologies, comprehensive protocols of exosome isolation and nanoparticle characterization, and systemic harmonization with regulatory frameworks for safety and quality at a stage earlier than the end of the process. Future directions towards combining biomimetic nanocarriers with gene-editing tools, immunotherapies, and phytochemical-based agents for synergistic effects, and the development of novel theranostic systems integrating diagnosis and treatment will be pursued. Overcoming these translational hurdles and interdisciplinary collaborations are critical for biomimetic nanomaterials to fulfil their huge potential to move colon cancer therapy closer to a safer, more effective and clinically practicable reality.
Breast cancer is still one of the top causes of cancer mortality worldwide, highlighting the need for more targeted and less toxic therapies. In nanomedicine, the emergence of green-synthesized nanoparticles (NPs) has been a recent advancement, offering the possibility for cancer therapy with their eco-friendly, biocompatible, and functional diversity. This review presents the new role of green-synthesized nanoparticles for specifically targeting relevant receptors that are overexpressed in breast cancer sub forms, such as human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor, various folate receptors, and CD44. Green-synthesized nanoparticles utilize naturally occurring reducing agents found in plant extracts and other natural biological materials, and demonstrate that drug delivery, gene silencing, diagnostics, and any other receptor-specific nanocarrier can be synthesized sustainably. These nanoparticles have further enabled increased cellular uptake, controlled drug release, and lowered systemic toxicity, leading to overall improved therapeutic efficacy. Functionalizing NPs with ligands or antibodies also for targeted delivery to cancer cells and limits off-target effects. This review also outlines current preclinical findings, challenges, and potential pathways for clinical translation of green nanotechnology for breast cancer treatment. Overall, the merging of green synthesis with receptor-targeted approaches has the potential to reshape personalized and environmentally sustainable cancer therapies. Finally, the scope extends to summarizing current preclinical evidence, identifying translational and regulatory challenges, and outlining future directions for the clinical development of sustainable nanotechnology-based interventions in breast cancer management.
