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Endogenous formaldehyde (FA) is produced in the human body via various mechanisms to preserve healthy energy metabolism and safeguard the organism. However, endogenous FA can have several negative effects on the body through epigenetic alterations, including cancer growth promotion; neuronal, hippocampal and endothelial damages; atherosclerosis acceleration; haemopoietic stem cell destruction and haemopoietic cell production reduction. Certain medications with antioxidant effects, such as glutathione, vitamin E, resveratrol, alpha lipoic acid and polyphenols, lessen the detrimental effects of endogenous FA by reducing oxidative stress, directly scavenging endogenous FA or promoting its degradation. This study offers fresh perspectives for managing illnesses associated with endogenous FA exposure. This article reviews the physiological and pathological mechanisms underlying the production and metabolism of endogenous formaldehyde, as well as its bidirectional regulatory effects on the human body. Finally, drugs that eliminate endogenous formaldehyde are summarized. This review provides a new perspective on how to treat diseases caused by endogenous formaldehyde in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural bioactive compounds from plants exhibit substantial pharmacological potency and therapeutic value. However, the development of most plant bioactive compounds is hindered by low solubility and instability. Conventional pharmaceutical forms, such as tablets and capsules, only partially overcome these limitations, restricting their efficacy. With the recent development of nanotechnology, nanocarriers can enhance the bioavailability, stability, and precise intracellular transport of plant bioactive compounds. Researchers are increasingly integrating nanocarrier‐based drug delivery systems (NDDS) into the development of natural plant compounds with significant success. Moreover, natural products benefit from nanotechnological enhancement and contribute to the innovation and optimization of nanocarriers via self‐assembly, grafting modifications, and biomimetic designs. This review aims to elucidate the collaborative and reciprocal advancement achieved by integrating nanocarriers with botanical products, such as bioactive compounds, polysaccharides, proteins, and extracellular vesicles. This review underscores the salient challenges in nanomedicine, encompassing long‐term safety evaluations of nanomedicine formulations, precise targeting mechanisms, biodistribution complexities, and hurdles in clinical translation. Further, this study provides new perspectives to leverage nanotechnology in promoting the development and optimization of natural plant products for nanomedical applications and guiding the progression of NDDS toward enhanced efficiency, precision, and safety. This article is categorized under:Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging TechnologiesNanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems have become a favourable platform for target specificity in disease treatment, although their side effects and toxicity remain controversial. Plant polysaccharide nanoparticles are safe, natural biomaterials that have become candidate materials for nano-drug delivery systems due to their excellent biodegradability and biocompatibility. In addition to becoming candidate materials, plant polysaccharide nanoparticles show excellent pharmacokinetic and drug delivery characteristics as carrier materials to manipulate small drug molecules at the nanoscale, mainly improving medicine solubility, reducing medicine toxicity and side effects and enhancing biological targeting of medicines. Therefore, the application of plant polysaccharide nanoparticles in the field of drug delivery systems may become the focus of future studies. Here we review the carrier function of plant polysaccharide nanoparticles as a polymeric material in drug delivery. The limitations and challenges of applying plant polysaccharide nanoparticles in drug carrier systems are highlighted with the aim to provide a reference for their precise development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a pH-responsive controlled-release mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN) formulation was developed. The MSNs were functionalized with a histidine (His)-tagged targeting peptide (B3int) through an amide bond, and loaded with an anticancer drug (cisplatin (CP)) and a lysosomal destabilization mediator (chloroquine (CQ)). Cu2+ was then used to seal the pores of the MSNs via chelation with the His-tag. The resultant nanoparticles showed pH-responsive drug release, and could effectively target tumor cells via the targeting effect of B3int. The presence of CP and Cu2+ permits reactive oxygen species to be generated inside cells; thus, the chemotherapeutic effect of CP is augmented by chemodynamic therapy. In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that the nanoparticles are able to effectively kill tumor cells. An in vivo cancer model revealed that the nanoparticles increase apoptosis in tumor cells, and thereby diminish the tumor volume. No off-target toxicity was noted. It thus appears that the functionalized MSNs developed in this work have great potential for targeted, synergistic anticancer therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes, and its complications, is a major threat to human health. In this research, we successfully synthesized a new type of glucose‐responsive poly(3‐acrylamidophenylboronic acid‐co‐pterostilbene) (p(AAPBA‐co‐PTE) nanoparticle. The nanoparticles are round in shape with a size between 150 and 200 nm. Insulin‐loaded p(AAPBA‐co‐PTE) nanoparticles can self‐adjust according to the changes in glucose concentration in vitro to achieve effective and sustained levels of insulin. P(AAPBA‐co‐PTE) nanoparticles have good stability, and the drug loading of insulin‐loaded p(AAPBA‐co‐PTE) nanoparticles is up to 16.7%, the encapsulation efficiency is up to 82.4% and the release rate of pterostilbene in vitro is up to 81%. The p(AAPBA‐co‐PTE) nanoparticles have low toxicity toward cells, and can effectively reduce blood sugar within 24 h. After 14 days of treatment, an animal model of myocardial ischemia‐reperfusion injury (MI/RI) was established. After treatment with the insulin‐loaded p(AAPBA‐co‐PTE) nanoparticles, the rat heart function was significantly improved, and the levels of inflammatory factors were significantly reduced. P(AAPBA‐co‐PTE) nanoparticles were therefore successfully synthesized, and had good performance. P(AAPBA‐co‐PTE) nanoparticles appear to have the effect of reducing blood sugar and preventing MI/RI, and may be valuable for the development of treatments for MI/RI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]