Glycosylated Ang-(1-7) MasR Agonist Peptide Poly Lactic-co-Glycolic Acid (PLGA) Nanoparticles and Microparticles in Cognitive Impairment: Design, Particle Preparation, Physicochemical Characterization, and In Vitro Release

Cognitive impairment in patients with heart failure: Physiopathology, clinical implications, and therapeutic considerations

Cognitive impairment (CI) is a significant comorbidity in individuals with heart failure (HF). A substantial number of patients with HF may experience CI, which can present as deficits in attention, memory, executive function, and processing speed. HF patients with CI tend to have reduced functional independence, self-care capabilities, medication adherence and decision-making ability, along with more frequent rehospitalizations, and an increased risk of mortality. Currently, there is no established gold standard diagnostic tool or follow-up strategy for assessing CI in patients with HF. There has been an increasing recognition of the complex bidirectional relationship between HF and CI. However, the exact pathological mechanisms of CI in HF need further in-depth investigation. This review aims to explore the current epidemiological status of CI in patients with HF, the relationship between HF and cognitive dysfunction, the pathological mechanisms involved, as well as the early screening, diagnosis, and management issues for HF patients with CI. It also discusses prevention and intervention strategies. The objective is to provide a scientific basis for the clinical diagnosis, management, and treatment of CI in HF, while proposing future research directions to advance this field.

Recent Advances in Peptide-Loaded PLGA Nanocarriers for Drug Delivery and Regenerative Medicine

Peptide-loaded poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanocarriers represent a transformative approach to addressing the challenges of peptide-based therapies. These systems offer solutions to peptide instability, enzymatic degradation, and limited bioavailability by providing controlled release, targeted delivery, and improved stability. The versatility of PLGA nanocarriers extends across therapeutic domains, including cancer therapy, neurodegenerative diseases, vaccine development, and regenerative medicine. Innovations in polymer chemistry, surface functionalization, and advanced manufacturing techniques, such as microfluidics and electrospraying, have further enhanced the efficacy and scalability of these systems. This review highlights the key physicochemical properties, preparation strategies, and proven benefits of peptide-loaded PLGA systems, emphasizing their role in sustained drug release, immune activation, and tissue regeneration. Despite remarkable progress, challenges such as production scalability, cost, and regulatory hurdles remain.

Mechanism of Metal Complexes in Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a kind of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by beta-amyloid deposition and neurofibrillary tangles and is also the main cause of dementia. According to statistics, the incidence of AD is constantly increasing, bringing a great burden to individuals and society. Nonetheless, there is no cure for AD, and the available drugs are very limited apart from cholinesterase inhibitors and N-Methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) antagonists, which merely alleviate symptoms without delaying the progression of the disease. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a medicine that can delay the progression of AD or cure it. In recent years, increasing evidence suggests that metal complexes have the enormous potential to treat AD through inhibiting the aggregation and cytotoxicity of Aβ, interfering with the congregation and hyperphosphorylation of tau, regulating dysfunctional synaptic and unbalanced neurotransmitters, etc. In this review, we summarize the current metal complexes and their mechanisms of action for treating AD, including ruthenium, platinum, zinc, vanadium, copper, magnesium, and other complexes.

Structure-Based Design of Glycosylated Oxytocin Analogues with Improved Selectivity and Antinociceptive Activity

Acute and chronic pain is often treated with opioids despite the negative side effects of constipation, physical dependence, respiratory depression, and overdose. The misuse of opioid analgesics has given rise to the opioid crisis/epidemic, and alternate nonaddictive analgesics are urgently needed. Oxytocin, a pituitary hormone, is an alternative to the small molecule treatments available and has been used as an analgesic as well as for the treatment and prevention of opioid use disorder (OUD). Clinical implementation is limited by its poor pharmacokinetic profile, a result of the labile disulfide bond between two cysteine residues in the native sequence. Stable brain penetrant oxytocin analogues have been synthesized by replacement of the disulfide bond with a stable lactam and glycosidation of the C-terminus. These analogues show exquisite selectivity for the oxytocin receptor and potent in vivo antinociception in mice following peripheral (i.v.) administration, supporting further study of their clinical potential.