Glioblastoma (GBM), the most aggressive grade IV malignant tumor in the central nervous system, presents a poor prognosis. Despite extensive insights into its molecular pathology, the conventional Stupp regimen remains largely ineffective due to several factors, including diffuse tumor infiltration, radioresistance, the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and therapy resistance driven by GBM stem cells (GSCs). Research has established that epigenetic modifications play a crucial role in the initiation, progression, invasion, and treatment resistance of GBM. However, existing epigenetic modulators frequently encounter pharmacokinetic limitations, which significantly compromise their efficacy. As a result, there is an urgent need for novel technologies to enhance the therapeutic impact of epigenetic modulators in GBM. This article reviews and discusses current GBM treatments, with a particular emphasis on the rapidly evolving strategy of nanomedicine. By encapsulating epigenetic modulators in precisely engineered nanocarriers, this approach not only improves drug solubility, stability, and circulation time, but also enhances tumor accumulation through passive or active targeting strategies, while allowing for controlled and intelligent drug release. Importantly, specially designed nanocarrier systems can effectively cross the BBB and overcome drug resistance, paving the way for new drug delivery methods in the management of GBM.

Excess cholesterol in macrophages is progressively converted into cholesterol crystals (CCs), promoting the transformation of macrophages into foam cells, a key process that drives the development of atherosclerosis (AS). β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) is a potent solubilizer of CCs and has been shown that could promote the efflux of CCs from foam cells. However, β-CD randomized extracts cholesterol in vivo, which reduces the therapeutic effect for AS plaque lesion and biosafety. Here, we constructed phosphatidylserine-targeting peptide (PS peptide) modified polyethylene glycol (PEG)-CD and ferrocene-modified phenylboronic acid (Fc-PBA) as a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive switch (“OFF-ON”). Under physiological condition, Fc of Fc-PBA effectively closes the cavity of β-CD and loads resveratrol (RVT) via borate bonds (RVT NPs). The PS peptide on the surface of nanoparticles was conjugated with the phosphatidylserine on the inner leaflet of macrophage membrane (MM) to harvest the right-side-out biomimetic membrane camouflaged nanoparticles (MM@RVT NPs), which could enhance the delivery to the inflammatory sites of AS plaques. When MM@RVT NPs arrived the plaque, the breakdown of MM@RVT NPs resulting from the oxidation of Fc-PBA, restored the β-CD lumen to dissolve CCs into free cholesterol and enhanced its efflux. Moreover, RVT was timely released to further enhance the expression of receptors associated with mediating cholesterol efflux. Besides, RVT also reduced the oxidative stress, and promoted the phenotypic conversion of macrophages from M1 to M2 type for alleviating inflammation in AS lesions. Therefore, MM@RVT NPs could be an intelligent nanoplatform for promoting the efficient AS management.

For the purpose of satisfying high demands for taste, color, flavor, and storage of meat products, water retention agents (WRAs) play an important role. Phosphate has been widely used as an attractive functional material for water retention in current practical applications. However, excessive phosphate addition and longterm consumption may be harmful impacts on health and the environment. Therefore, it is vital to develop safe and efficient phosphate-free WRAs for further improving water-holding capacity (WHC) efficacy and edible safety, especially in meat products. In particular, sugar water retention agents (SWRAs) are increasingly popular because of their perfect safety, excellent WHC, and superior biological properties. This review discusses the inducements and mechanisms underlying water loss in meat products. In addition, we focused on the research progresses and related mechanisms of SWRAs in the WHC of meat products and its unique biological functions, as well as the extraction technology. Finally, the future application and development of SWRA were prospected.

Diabetes, a prevalent chronic metabolic disorder, often leads to severe complications. Currently, existing treatment methods may pose life-threatening risks due to poor patient compliance and inaccurate dosing of subcutaneous insulin injections. Hence, a biomimetic red blood cell (RBC) membrane-coated glucose-responsive nanoplatform is developed for controlling insulin release. Functionalizing nanoplatforms with RBC membrane can prolong the half-life of nano-formulation in vivo mediated by the biomimetic immune escape. Simultaneously, the cascade catalytic effect of glucose oxidase (GOx) encapsulated in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and hemoglobin (Hb) in the RBC membrane are able to not only facilitate glucose-responsive insulin release, but also eliminate the detrimental by-product hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) resulting from the Hb mediated H₂O₂ scavenging. Both in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated the favorable glucose-responsive performances of this advanced nano-platform with a single intravenous injection maintaining blood glucose balance in Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) mice for an extended duration without the hypoglycemia risk. Therefore, this biomimetic insulin delivery system is poised to function as a strategy for the intravenous insulin administration, offering a promising drug candidate for the self-adaptive long-term T1D treatment.