The Traditional Influence on Increasing Acceptance of Commercial Smartphone Applications in Specific Regions of the Arabic World

The consumer sector represents one of the key players in the diffusion of M-commerce in contemporary societies. Consumers’ traditionalism has a significant impact in determining the appropriate products to offer electronically, as well as in determining the functions and information that should be offered to enable them to make the right decisions at the right time. Many characteristics and requirements in general-use commercial applications cannot be acceptable for more targeted release if they are not compatible with the target population’s traditional requirements, and therefore, the M-commerce applications go to complexity level in design because of the socio-technical systems. This study is conducted in three GCC countries, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar on 799 participant consumers. This study focuses to determine the basic requirements for smartphones’ commercial applications, including the requirements affected by different traditionalism in the studied communities.

Thrombolytic Agents: Nanocarriers in Targeted Release

A thrombus, known as a blood clot, may form within the vascular system of the body and impede blood flow. Thrombosis is the most common underlying pathology of cardiovascular diseases, contributing to high morbidity and mortality. However, the main thrombolytic drugs (urokinase, streptokinase, etc.) have shortcomings, including a short half-life, serious side effects and a lack of targeting, that limit their clinical application. The use of nano-drug delivery systems is expected to address these problems and a variety of approaches, including biological and physical responsive systems, have been explored. In this report, recent advances in the development of targeted nano-drug delivery systems are thoroughly reviewed.

Hallmarks of exosomes

Exosomes are a new horizon in modern therapy, presenting exciting new opportunities for advanced drug delivery and targeted release. Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles with a size range of 30–100 nm, secreted by all cell types in the human body and carrying a unique collection of DNA fragments, RNA species, lipids, protein biomarkers, transcription factors and metabolites. miRNAs are one of the most common RNA species in exosomes, and they play a role in a variety of biological processes including exocytosis, hematopoiesis and angiogenesis, as well as cellular communication via exosomes. Exosomes can act as cargo to transport this information from donor cells to near and long-distance target cells, participating in the reprogramming of recipient cells.

Strategies to Develop Cyclodextrin-Based Nanosponges for Smart Drug Delivery

In recent years, the development of various cyclodextrin (CD)-based nanosponges (NSs) has gained great importance in the controlled and-or targeted release of drugs due to their versatility and simple preparation. In this chapter, an introduction of different administration routes is explained. Further, different ways to obtain CD-NSs and their classification are shown with a brief explanation of the characterization of the inclusion complexes. Finally, illustrative examples in diverse processes or diseases will be reviewed and explained to demonstrate the potential of CD-NSs. Therefore, this division will serve to compile information on CD-NSs in recent years and to illustrate to readers how to generate and apply different derivatives of interest.

Consumption of Butylated Starch Alleviates the Chronic Restraint Stress-Induced Neurobehavioral and Gut Barrier Deficits Through Reshaping the Gut Microbiota

The beneficial effect of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) on host health has been well recognized based on the booming knowledge from gut microbiome research. The role of SCFA in influencing psychological function is highlighted in recent years but has not been fully elucidated. In this study, the SCFA-acylated starches were used to accomplish a sizeable intestine-targeted release of the SCFAs, and the neurobehavioral, immunological, and microbial effects were further investigated. Acetylated-, butylated-, and isobutylated-starch could attenuate the depression-like behaviors and excessive corticosterone production in chronically stressed mice. Butylated- starch significantly reduced the colonic permeability via increasing the tight junction proteins (including ZO-1, Claudin, and Occludin) gene expression and reduced the level of the inflammatory cytokines (including IL-1β and IL-6). The butylated starch’s neurological and immunological benefits may be derived from the gut microbiome modifications, including normalizing the abundance of certain beneficial microbes (Odoribacter and Oscillibacter) and metabolomic pathways (Tryptophan synthesis and Inositol degradation). The present findings further validate the brain-beneficial effect of butyrate and offer novel guidance for developing novel food or dietary supplements for improving mental health.

Horizontal Transmission of the Symbiont Microsporidia MB in Anopheles arabiensis

The recently discovered Anopheles symbiont, Microsporidia MB, has a strong malaria transmission-blocking phenotype in Anopheles arabiensis, the predominant Anopheles gambiae species complex member in many active transmission areas in eastern Africa. The ability of Microsporidia MB to block Plasmodium transmission together with vertical transmission and avirulence makes it a candidate for the development of a symbiont-based malaria transmission blocking strategy. We investigate the characteristics and efficiencies of Microsporidia MB transmission between An. arabiensis mosquitoes. We show that Microsporidia MB is not transmitted between larvae but is effectively transmitted horizontally between adult mosquitoes. Notably, Microsporidia MB was only found to be transmitted between male and female An. arabiensis, suggesting sexual horizontal transmission. In addition, Microsporidia MB cells were observed infecting the An. arabiensis ejaculatory duct. Female An. arabiensis that acquire Microsporidia MB horizontally are able to transmit the symbiont vertically to their offspring. We also investigate the possibility that Microsporidia MB can infect alternate hosts that live in the same habitats as their An. arabiensis hosts, but find no other non-anopheline hosts. Notably, Microsporidia MB infections were found in another primary malaria African vector, Anopheles funestus s.s. The finding that Microsporidia MB can be transmitted horizontally is relevant for the development of dissemination strategies to control malaria that are based on the targeted release of Microsporidia MB infected Anopheles mosquitoes.

Oregano Essential Oil Micro- and Nanoencapsulation With Bioactive Properties for Biotechnological and Biomedical Applications

Due to the preservative, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and therapeutic properties of oregano essential oil (OEO), it has received an emerging interest for biotechnological and biomedical applications. However, stability and bioactivity can be compromised by its natural volatile and hydrophobic nature, and by external factors including light, heat, or oxygen. Therefore, micro- and nanoencapsulation are being employed to guarantee oregano oil protection from outside aggressions and to maximize its potential. Oregano oil encapsulation is an interesting strategy used to increase its stability, enhance its bioactivity, and decrease its volatility. At the same time, the versatility that micro- and nanocarriers offer, allows to prepare tailored systems that can provide a controlled and targeted release of the encapsulated principle, influence its bioactive activities, or even provide additional properties. Most common materials used to prepare these carriers are based on lipids and cyclodextrins, due to their hydrophobic nature, polymers due to their versatility in composition, and hybrid lipid-polymer systems. In this context, recently developed micro- and nanocarriers encapsulating oregano oil with applications in the biotechnological and biomedical fields will be discussed.

A Bone-Targeting Enoxacin Delivery System to Eradicate Staphylococcus Aureus-Related Implantation Infections and Bone Loss

Post-operative infections in orthopaedic implants are severe complications that require urgent solutions. Although conventional antibiotics limit bacterial biofilms formation, they ignore the bone loss caused by osteoclast formation during post-operative orthopaedic implant-related infections. Fortunately, enoxacin exerts dual antibacterial and osteoclast inhibitory effects, playing a pivot in limiting infection and preventing bone loss. However, enoxacin lacks specificity in bone tissue and low bioavailability-relate side effects, which hinders translational practice. Herein, we developed a nanosystem (Eno@MSN-D) based on enoxacin (Eno)-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN), decorated with the eight repeating sequences of aspartate (D-Asp8), and coated with polyethylene glycol (PEG). This Eno@MSN-D delivery nanosystem exhibited both antibacterial and anti-osteoclast properties in vitro. More importantly, Eno@MSN-D allowed the targeted release of enoxacin in infected bone tissues and prevented implant-related infection and bone loss in vivo. Therefore, our work highlights the significance of novel biomaterials that offer new alternatives to treat and prevent orthopaedic staphylococcus aureus-related implantation infections and bone loss.

Effect of Different Physical Cross-Linkers on Drug Release from Hydrogel Layers Coated on Magnetically Steerable 3D-Printed Microdevices

In the last few decades, the introduction of microrobotics has drastically changed the way medicine will be approached in the future. The development of untethered steerable microdevices able to operate in vivo inside the human body allows a high localization of the therapeutical action, thus limiting invasiveness and possible medical complications. This approach results are particularly useful in drug delivery, where it is highly beneficial to administer the drug of choice exclusively to the target organ to avoid overdosage and side effects. In this context, drug releasing layers can be loaded on magnetically moveable platforms that can be guided toward the target organ to perform highly targeted release. In the present paper, we evaluate the possible application of alginate hydrogel layers on moveable platforms manufactured by coupling additive manufacturing with wet metallization. Such alginate layers are reticulated using three different physical crosslinkers: Ca, Zn or Mn. Their effect on drug release kinetics and on device functionality is evaluated. In the case of alginate reticulated using Mn, the strongly pH dependent behavior of the resulting hydrogel is evaluated as a possible way to introduce a triggered release functionality on the devices.