miRNAs in Herpesvirus Infection: Powerful Regulators in Small Packages

microRNAs are a class of small, single-stranded, noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression. They can be significantly dysregulated upon exposure to any infection, serving as important biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Numerous human DNA viruses, along with several herpesviruses, have been found to encode and express functional viral microRNAs known as vmiRNAs, which can play a vital role in host–pathogen interactions by controlling the viral life cycle and altering host biological pathways. Viruses have also adopted a variety of strategies to prevent being targeted by cellular miRNAs. Cellular miRNAs can act as anti- or proviral components, and their dysregulation occurs during a wide range of infections, including herpesvirus infection. This demonstrates the significance of miRNAs in host herpesvirus infection. The current state of knowledge regarding microRNAs and their role in the different stages of herpes virus infection are discussed in this review. It also delineates the therapeutic and biomarker potential of these microRNAs in future research directions

Combinatorial Effects of miRNAs in HSV-2 Infection of Macrophages: An In Silico and In Vitro Integration Approach

The rising issues of herpes simplex virus (HSV)-2 drug ramifications have encouraged the researchers to look for new and alternative approaches that pose minimum adversities in the host while efficiently reducing the HSV-2 infection. Although microRNAs (miRNAs), as unorthodox approaches, are gaining popularity due to eliciting highly reduced immunogenic reactions, their implications in HSV-2 research have been rarely explored. In this study, a pool of cellular miRNAs with significance in HSV-2-induced inflammatory and immune responses have been identified. Computationally recognizing the host targets of these miRNAs through network biology and machine learning, in vitro validation has been addressed along with the identification of their regulation in the HSV-2 infection. To signify the role of these identified miRNAs, they have been individually ectopically expressed in macrophages. The ectopic expression of the individual miRNAs was able to suppress HSV-2 viral gene expression. Taking a step forward, this study also highlights the Box–Behnken design-based combinatorial effect of ectopically expressed miRNAs on maximum suppression of HSV-2 infectivity. Therefore, the concentrations of each of the miRNAs optimized in a combination, predicted through expert systems biology tools were validated in vitro to not only recover the target expressions but also inhibit the HSV-2 infection in the macrophages. Overall, the study offers miRNAs as intriguing alternatives to commercially available medications against HSV-2. Moreover, the study illuminates the prophylactic potentiality of the miRNAs, which is significant since there are currently no vaccines available for HSV-2. Moving forward, the miRNAs are employed in an innovative strategy that incorporates intricate biological system models and in vitro confirmation methods to deliver a prospective combinatorial miRNA therapeutic against HSV-2 infection

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-Based Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications: A Review of the State-of-the-Art

A prominent research topic in contemporary advanced functional materials science is the production of smart materials based on polymers that may independently adjust their physical and/or chemical characteristics when subjected to external stimuli. Smart hydrogels based on poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) demonstrate distinct thermoresponsive features close to a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) that enhance their capability in various biomedical applications such as drug delivery, tissue engineering, and wound dressings. Nevertheless, they have intrinsic shortcomings such as poor mechanical properties, limited loading capacity of actives, and poor biodegradability. Formulation of PNIPAM with diverse functional constituents to develop hydrogel composites is an efficient scheme to overcome these defects, which can significantly help for practicable application. This review reports on the latest developments in functional PNIPAM-based smart hydrogels for various biomedical applications. The first section describes the properties of PNIPAM-based hydrogels, followed by potential applications in diverse fields. Ultimately, this review summarizes the challenges and opportunities in this emerging area of research and development concerning this fascinating polymer-based system deep-rooted in chemistry and material science