Deep learning in the discovery of antiviral peptides and peptidomimetics: databases and prediction tools.

Antiviral peptides (AVPs) represent a novel and promising therapeutic alternative to conventional antiviral treatments, due to their broad-spectrum activity, high specificity, and low toxicity. The emergence of zoonotic viruses such as Zika, Ebola, and SARS-CoV-2 have accelerated AVP research, driven by advancements in data availability and artificial intelligence (AI). This review focuses on the development of AVP databases, their physicochemical properties, and predictive tools utilizing machine learning for AVP discovery.

Discovery of Non-Nucleotide Small-Molecule STING Agonists Chemotype Hybridization.

The identification of agonists of the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway has been an area of intense research due to their potential to enhance innate immune response and tumor immunogenicity in the context of immuno-oncology therapy. Initial efforts to identify STING agonists focused on the modification of 2',3'-cGAMP () (an endogenous STING activator ligand) and other closely related cyclic dinucleotides (CDNs). While these efforts have successfully identified novel CDNs that have progressed into the clinic, their utility is currently limited to patients with solid tumors that STING agonists can be delivered to intratumorally.

Research progress of phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase and its inhibitors in inflammatory diseases.

Phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase (PI4K) is a lipid kinase that can catalyze the transfer of phosphate group from ATP to the inositol ring of phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) resulting in the phosphorylation of PtdIns at 4-OH sites, to generate phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI4P). Studies on biological functions reveal that PI4K is closely related to the occurrence and development of various inflammatory diseases such as obesity, cancer, viral infections, malaria, Alzheimer's disease, etc. PI4K-related inhibitors have been found to have the effects of inhibiting virus replication, anti-cancer, treating malaria and reducing rejection in organ transplants, among which MMV390048, an anti-malaria drug, has entered phase II clinical trial.

A novel histone deacetylase inhibitor LT-548-133-1 induces apoptosis by inhibiting HDAC and interfering with microtubule assembly in MCF-7 cells.

Many studies have indicated that histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis) have a significant antitumor effect in cancer. Here we report a compound named LT-548-133-1 that not only acts as an HDAC inhibitor but also interferes with microtubule assembly to inhibit MCF-7 cell proliferation and induce apoptosis. Consistent with Chidamide, LT-548-133-1 inhibited HDAC activity and increased histone H3 acetylation.

Review: Inhibitory potential of low molecular weight Heparin in cell adhesion; emphasis on tumor metastasis.

Low molecular weight heparin is a Heparin derivative, produced from commercial-grade Heparin through Chemical or enzymatic depolymerization. LMWH has remained a favored regimen for anticoagulation in cancer patients. Evidence from several studies has suggested that LMWHs possess antitumor and antimetastatic activity aside from their anticoagulant activity.

Targeted and stimuli-responsive mesoporous silica nanoparticles for drug delivery and theranostic use.

For cancer therapy, the usefulness of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MPSNPs) has been widely discussed, likely due to its inorganic nature and excellent structural features. The MPSNPs-based chemotherapeutics have been promisingly delivered to their target sites that help to minimize side effects and improve therapeutic effectiveness. A wide array of studies have been conducted to functionalize drug-loaded MPSNPs using targeting ligands and stimuli-sensitive substances.

Mesoporous Silica Nanomaterials: Versatile Nanocarriers for Cancer Theranostics and Drug and Gene Delivery.

Mesoporous silica nanomaterials (MSNs) have made remarkable achievements and are being thought of by researchers as materials that can be used to effect great change in cancer therapies, gene delivery, and drug delivery because of their optically transparent properties, flexible size, functional surface, low toxicity profile, and very good drug loading competence. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) show a very high loading capacity for therapeutic agents. It is well known that cancer is one of the most severe known medical conditions, characterized by cells that grow and spread rapidly.

Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins: Reduced Size Particulate Systems for Improved Therapeutic Outcomes.

A wide range of diseases have been treated using low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs), the drug of choice for anticoagulation. Owing to their better pharmacokinetic features compared to those of unfractionated heparin (uFH), several systems incorporating LMWHs have been investigated to deliver and improve their therapeutic outcomes, especially through development of their micro- and nano-particles. This review article describes current perspectives on the fabrication, characterization, and application of LMWHs-loaded micro- and nano-particles to achieve ameliorated bioavailability.

CAPSAICIN: ITS BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES AND IN SILICO TARGET FISHING.

Capsicum annuum L. is a rich source of capsaicin, an alkaloid, which is a very pungent compound. Due to ever growing need of capsaicin, an extensive research on its efficient cultivation as well as chemical synthesis is underway.

Carrageenan Based Bionanocomposites as Drug Delivery Tool with Special Emphasis on the Influence of Ferromagnetic Nanoparticles.

Over the past few years, considerable attention has been focused on carrageenan based bionanocomposites due to their multifaceted properties like biodegradability, biocompatibility, and nontoxicity. Moreover, these composites can be tailored according to the desired purpose by using different nanofillers. The role of ferromagnetic nanoparticles in drug delivery is also discussed here in detail.