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Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subpopulation of cancer cells with functions similar to those of normal stem cells. Although few in number, they are capable of self-renewal, unlimited proliferation, and multi-directional differentiation potential. In addition, CSCs have the ability to escape immune surveillance. Thus, they play an important role in the occurrence and development of tumors, and they are closely related to tumor invasion, metastasis, drug resistance, and recurrence after treatment. Therefore, specific targeting of CSCs may improve the efficiency of cancer therapy. A series of corresponding promising therapeutic strategies based on CSC targeting, such as the targeting of CSC niche, CSC signaling pathways, and CSC mitochondria, are currently under development. Given the rapid progression in this field and nanotechnology, drug delivery systems (DDSs) for CSC targeting are increasingly being developed. In this review, we summarize the advances in CSC-targeted DDSs. Furthermore, we highlight the latest developmental trends through the main line of CSC occurrence and development process; some considerations about the rationale, advantages, and limitations of different DDSs for CSC-targeted therapies were discussed., Graphical abstract Emerging CSCs-targeted drug delivery systems for efficient cancer therapy following the main line of CSCs occurrence and development process from the whole to the part and from the outside to the inside.Image 1

Hypoxia, a salient feature of most solid tumors, confers invasiveness and resistance to the tumor cells. Oxygen-consumption photodynamic therapy (PDT) suffers from the undesirable impediment of local hypoxia in tumors. Moreover, PDT could further worsen hypoxia. Therefore, developing effective strategies for manipulating hypoxia and improving the effectiveness of PDT has been a focus on antitumor treatment. In this review, the mechanism and relationship of tumor hypoxia and PDT are discussed. Moreover, we highlight recent trends in the field of nanomedicines to modulate hypoxia for enhancing PDT, such as oxygen supply systems, down-regulation of oxygen consumption and hypoxia utilization. Finally, the opportunities and challenges are put forward to facilitate the development and clinical transformation of PDT., Graphical abstract Review of mechanisms and relationships of tumor hypoxia and photodynamic therapy as well as four nanomedicine delivery systems for manipulating tumor hypoxia to enhance the photodynamic therapy.Image 1

Graphical abstract, The 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)) has witnessed a rapid and global proliferation since its early identification in patients with severe pneumonia in Wuhan, China. As of 27th May 2020, 2019-nCoV cases have risen to >5 million, with confirmed deaths of 350,000. However, Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) diagnostic and treatment measures are yet to be fully unraveled, given the novelty of this particular coronavirus. Hence, no drug or vaccine has been adapted for treatment, and the accuracy of the current diagnostic tests is debatable. Therefore, existing antiviral agents used for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) were repurposed for COVID-19, taking their biological features into consideration. This study provides a concise review of the current and emerging detection and supervision technologies for SARS-CoV-2, which is the viral etiology of COVID19, and their performance characteristics, with emphasis on the novel Nano-based diagnostic tests (protein corona sensor array and magnetic levitation) and treatment measures (treatment protocols based on nano-silver colloids) for COVID-19.

Graphical abstract, Highlights • The issues and demands for MOF commercialization are discussed. • Scalable MOF synthesis, recovery, drying, and post-processing processes are discussed. • Future applications that have significant potential for MOF commercialization are investigated., Progress in metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) has advanced from fundamental chemistry to engineering processes and applications, resulting in new industrial opportunities. The unique features of MOFs, such as their permanent porosity, high surface area, and structural flexibility, continue to draw industrial interest outside the traditional MOF field, both to solve existing challenges and to create new businesses. In this context, diverse research has been directed toward commercializing MOFs, but such studies have been performed according to a variety of individual goals. Therefore, there have been limited opportunities to share the challenges, goals, and findings with most of the MOF field. In this review, we examine the issues and demands for MOF commercialization and investigate recent advances in MOF process engineering and applications. Specifically, we discuss the criteria for MOF commercialization from the views of stability, producibility, regulations, and production cost. This review covers progress in the mass production and formation of MOFs along with future applications that are not currently well known but have high potential for new areas of MOF commercialization.