Nano based drug delivery systems: recent developments and future prospects

Nanomedicine and nano delivery systems are a relatively new but rapidly developing science where materials in the nanoscale range are employed to serve as means of diagnostic tools or to deliver therapeutic agents to specific targeted sites in a controlled manner. Nanotechnology offers multiple benefits in treating chronic human diseases by site-specific, and target-oriented delivery of precise medicines. Recently, there are a number of outstanding applications of the nanomedicine (chemotherapeutic agents, biological agents, immunotherapeutic agents etc.) in the treatment of various diseases. The current review, presents an updated summary of recent advances in the field of nanomedicines and nano based drug delivery systems through comprehensive scrutiny of the discovery and application of nanomaterials in improving both the efficacy of novel and old drugs (e.g., natural products) and selective diagnosis through disease marker molecules. The opportunities and challenges of nanomedicines in drug delivery from synthetic/natural sources to their clinical applications are also discussed. In addition, we have included information regarding the trends and perspectives in nanomedicine area.

Hydrogel Actuators and Sensors for Biomedical Soft Robots: Brief Overview with Impending Challenges

There are numerous developments taking place in the field of biorobotics, and one such recent breakthrough is the implementation of soft robots-a pathway to mimic nature's organic parts for research purposes and in minimally invasive surgeries as a result of their shape-morphing and adaptable features. Hydrogels (biocompatible, biodegradable materials that are used in designing soft robots and sensor integration), have come into demand because of their beneficial properties, such as high water content, flexibility, and multi-faceted advantages particularly in targeted drug delivery, surgery and biorobotics. We illustrate in this review article the different types of biomedical sensors and actuators for which a hydrogel acts as an active primary material, and we elucidate their limitations and the future scope of this material in the nexus of similar biomedical avenues.

pH-Responsive Hybrid Hydrogels as Antibacterial and Drug Delivery Systems

This study describes the design and synthesis of organic⁻inorganic hybrid hydrogels based on an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) composed of polyaspartic acid crosslinked by graphene nanosheets as the primary network and poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) as the secondary network. Silver, copper oxide, and zinc oxide nanoparticles were formed within the gel matrix, and the obtained hydrogel was applied to a load and controlled release of curcumin. The loading of curcumin and the release of this drug from the gels depended on the nanoparticle's (NP's) content of hydrogels as well as the pH of the medium. The synthesized hydrogels showed antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus bacteria. The ability of the synthesized hydrogels to incapacitate bacteria and their loading capacity and controlled release of curcumin qualify them for future therapies such as wound-dressing applications.