Accelerating the Translation of Nanomaterials in Biomedicine

Due to their size and tailorable physicochemical properties, nanomaterials are an emerging class of structures utilized in biomedical applications. There are now many prominent examples of nanomaterials being used to improve human health, in areas ranging from imaging and diagnostics to therapeutics and regenerative medicine. An overview of these examples reveals several common areas of synergy and future challenges. This Nano Focus discusses the current status and future potential of promising nanomaterials and their translation from the laboratory to the clinic, by highlighting a handful of successful examples

Molecular Insights into Acne Vulgaris: A Multi-Omics Approach Towards Precision Medicine

Acne vulgaris is a common dermatological disorder that significantly impacts quality of life, yet its complex pathogenesis remains incompletely understood, contributing to the variability in clinical presentation and treatment response. This review summarizes recent advances in omics-based research on acne vulgaris and explores how these findings support the development of targeted therapy. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed using the keywords “acne genomic,” “acne transcriptomic,” “acne proteomic,” and “acne metabolomic.” Original research articles published in English, available in full text, and published between 2015 and 2025 were included. After screening for relevance and removing duplicates, 17 studies met the inclusion criteria. Additional relevant articles were also referenced to complement the discussion. The selected studies show that large-scale molecular analysis provides a more comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying acne vulgaris. These findings enable the identification of novel biomarkers, better insight into pathological pathways, and the development of more targeted therapeutic strategies. Further studies are needed to validate these findings and translate them into improved strategies for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of acne vulgaris

Trifarotene: a current review and perspectives in dermatology

Retinoids have numerous applications in inflammatory, dyskeratotic, and oncohematology diseases. Retinoids have now reached the fourth generation, progressively reducing toxicity whilst increasing their efficacy. Trifarotene is a new fourth-generation retinoid with a selective action on RAR-γ. In this review, we reported the trials—both concluded and in progress—including the use of trifarotene in dermatological diseases. Studies were identified by searching electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane, Trials.gov) from 2012 to today and reference lists of respective articles. Only articles published in English language were included. Randomized trials evaluating trifarotene tolerability, safety, and efficacy in congenital ichthyosis and acne have demonstrated great results and mild side effects, leading to the approval by the FDA of trifarotene for the treatment of lamellar ichthyosis in 2014, and of acne vulgaris in October 2019. No high-quality randomized clinical trials have evaluated the treatment of primary cutaneous lymphomas with trifarotene. Finally, we are hypothesizing future perspectives in the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancers, fungal infections, photoaging, and hand-foot skin reactions with trifarotene

Topical, Biological and Clinical Challenges in the Management of Patients with Acne Vulgaris

Acne vulgaris is one of the most common chronic inflammatory skin disorders among adolescents and young adults. It is associated with substantial morbidity and, rarely, with mortality. The exact worldwide incidence and prevalence are currently unknown. Current challenges involve improving understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of acne vulgaris and developing a practical treatment consensus. Expert panel discussions were held in 2013 and 2014 among a group of scientists and clinicians from the Omani and United Arab Emirate Dermatology Societies to ascertain the current optimal management of acne vulgaris, identify clinically relevant end-points and construct suitable methodology for future clinical trial designs. This article reviews the discussions of these sessions and recent literature on this topic

Exploring Phytoconstituents as Potential Therapeutics for Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome: A Comprehensive Review

Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a complex and prevalent endocrine disorder affecting women of reproductive age. This comprehensive review explores the potential of phytoconstituents as therapeutics for PCOS. PCOS is characterized by hormonal imbalances, metabolic disturbances, and reproductive abnormalities. Current treatment options are associated with limitations and side effects, necessitating the exploration of alternative therapeutic approaches. Phytoconstituents, derived from plants, offer a diverse range of bioactive compounds with the potential to address multiple facets of PCOS pathophysiology. This review synthesizes existing research on phytoconstituents such as curcumin, resveratrol, and berberine, highlighting their efficacy in mitigating insulin resistance, modulating hormonal imbalances, and improving reproductive outcomes. The review discusses preclinical and clinical studies, providing insights into the regulatory aspects of these phytoconstituents. The findings suggest that phytoconstituents present a promising avenue for the development of novel therapeutic interventions for PCOS, offering a potential solution with fewer adverse effects. However, further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms of action and ensure the safety and efficacy of phytoconstituents in the management of PCOS

Exploring Phytoconstituents as Potential Therapeutics for Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome: A Comprehensive Review

Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a complex and prevalent endocrine disorder affecting women of reproductive age. This comprehensive review explores the potential of phytoconstituents as therapeutics for PCOS. PCOS is characterized by hormonal imbalances, metabolic disturbances, and reproductive abnormalities. Current treatment options are associated with limitations and side effects, necessitating the exploration of alternative therapeutic approaches. Phytoconstituents, derived from plants, offer a diverse range of bioactive compounds with the potential to address multiple facets of PCOS pathophysiology. This review synthesizes existing research on phytoconstituents such as curcumin, resveratrol, and berberine, highlighting their efficacy in mitigating insulin resistance, modulating hormonal imbalances, and improving reproductive outcomes. The review discusses preclinical and clinical studies, providing insights into the regulatory aspects of these phytoconstituents. The findings suggest that phytoconstituents present a promising avenue for the development of novel therapeutic interventions for PCOS, offering a potential solution with fewer adverse effects. However, further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms of action and ensure the safety and efficacy of phytoconstituents in the management of PCOS

Therapeutic Strategies and Emerging Drug Delivery Systems for Oral Aphthous Ulcers

Aphthous ulcers, also known as canker sores, are painful mucosal lesions that occur on oral structures, including the cheeks, gums, lips, and tongue. Although their precise etiology remains unclear, contributing factors include nutritional deficiencies (vitamins B12, folate, C), stress, trauma, infections (viral, bacterial, fungal), chemical irritants like sodium lauryl sulfate, and heavy metal exposure. These ulcers significantly impair quality of life by causing pain during eating, brushing, and speaking. Treatment aims to manage pain, promote healing, and reduce the frequency of recurrence. Topical corticosteroids remain the mainstay of therapy, offering rapid resolution with minimal systemic effects. Adjunctive treatments include local analgesics, immunomodulators (e.g., thalidomide), NSAIDs (mesalazine), stem‑cell therapy, and various herbal remedies such as extracts from Psidium guajava, Curcuma longa, Glycyrrhiza glabra, and Punica granatum, which demonstrate anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound‑healing properties. Recent advances focus on novel mucoadhesive drug delivery systems—patches, gels, microneedles, nanosheets, hydrogels—to enhance drug residence time, bioavailability, and patient compliance. These innovative approaches target both symptomatic relief and accelerated healing, while minimizing systemic exposure and improving therapeutic outcomes. Moving forward, integrating molecular insights into disease mechanisms (microRNA dysregulation in OPMDs, microbial dysbiosis) with tailored delivery platforms may pave the way for precision interventions targeting recurrent aphthous ulcers. Keywords: Aphthous ulcers, nutritional deficiencies, stress, trauma, infection

Translational advances of melanocortin drugs: Integrating biology, chemistry and genetics.

Melanocortin receptors have emerged as important targets with a very unusual versatility, as their widespread distribution on multiple tissues (e.g. skin, adrenal glands, brain, immune cells, exocrine glands) together with the variety of physiological processes they control (pigmentation, cortisol release, satiety mechanism, inflammation, secretions), place this family of receptors as genuine therapeutic targets for many disorders. This review focuses in the journey of the development of melanocortin receptors as therapeutic targets from the discovery of their existence in the early 1990 s to the approval of the first few drugs of this class. Two major areas of development characterise the current state of melanocortin drug development: their role in obesity, recently culminated with the approval of setmelanotide, and their potential for the treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis or fibrosis. The pro-resolving nature of these drugs offers the advantage of acting by mimicking the way our body naturally resolves inflammation, expecting fewer side effects and a more balanced (i.e. non-immunosuppressive) response from them. Here we also review the approaches followed for the design and development of novel compounds, the importance of the GPCR nature of these receptors in the process of drug development, therapeutic value, current challenges and successes, and the potential for the implementation of precision medicine approaches through the incorporation of genetics advances

3D-printed products for topical skin applications : from personalized dressings to drug delivery

3D printing has been widely used for the personalization of therapies and on-demand production of complex pharmaceutical forms. Recently, 3D printing has been explored as a tool for the development of topical dosage forms and wound dressings. Thus, this review aims to present advances related to the use of 3D printing for the development of pharmaceutical and biomedical products for topical skin applications, covering plain dressing and products for the delivery of active ingredients to the skin. Based on the data acquired, the important growth in the number of publications over the last years confirms its interest. The semisolid extrusion technique has been the most reported one, probably because it allows the use of a broad range of polymers, creating the most diverse therapeutic approaches. 3D printing has been an excellent field for customizing dressings, according to individual needs. Studies discussed here imply the use of metals, nanoparticles, drugs, natural compounds and proteins and peptides for the treatment of wound healing, acne, pain relief, and anti-wrinkle, among others. The confluence of 3D printing and topical applications has undeniable advantages, and we would like to encourage the research groups to explore this field to improve the patient’s life quality, adherence and treatment efficacy