Metabolic syndrome is a cluster including hyperglycaemia, obesity, hypertension, and hypertriglyceridaemia as a result of biochemical and physiological alterations and can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Fundamental research on this disease requires validated animal models. One potential animal model that is rapidly gaining in popularity is zebrafish (Danio rerio). The use of zebrafish as an animal model conveys several advantages, including high human genetic homology, transparent embryos and larvae that allow easier visualization. This review discusses how zebrafish models contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome studies. Different diseases in the cluster of metabolic syndrome, such as hyperglycaemia, obesity, diabetes, and hypertriglyceridaemia, have been successfully studied using zebrafish; and the model is promising for hypertension and cardiovascular metabolic-related diseases due to its genetic similarity to mammals. Genetic mutation, chemical induction, and dietary alteration are among the tools used to improve zebrafish models. This field is expanding, and thus, more effective and efficient techniques are currently developed to fulfil the increasing demand for thorough investigations.
Metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) have garnered significant attention due to their ability to improve the therapeutic index of medications by reducing multidrug resistance and effectively delivering therapeutic agents through active targeting. In addition to drug delivery, MNPs have several medical applications, including in vitro and in vivo diagnostics, and they improve the biocompatibility of materials and nutraceuticals. MNPs have several advantages in drug delivery systems and genetic manipulation, such as improved stability and half-life in circulation, passive or active targeting into the desired target selective tissue, and gene manipulation by delivering genetic materials. The main goal of this review is to provide current information on the present issues and prospects of MNPs in drug and gene delivery systems. The current study focused on MNP preparation methods and their characterization by different techniques, their applications to targeted delivery, non-viral vectors in genetic manipulation, and challenges in clinical trial translation.
5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) has been the primary drug used in chemotherapy for colorectal carcinoma, and localizing the drug would be effective in avoiding its side effects and improving therapeutic outcomes. One approach to achieve this is by encapsulating the drug in microbeads. Alginate microbeads, in particular, exhibit promising pH-sensitive properties, making them an attractive option for colon targeting. Thus, the main aim of this study is to formulate and characterize 5-FU-encapsulated alginate microbeads as a pH-sensitive drug delivery system for controlled release in the gastrointestinal tract. In this study, the alginate microbeads encapsulating 5-FU was manufactured using electrospray methods. This method offers the advantages of promoting the formulation of uniformly small-sized microbeads with improved performance in terms of swelling and diffusion rates. The size and shape of the 5-FU microbeads are 394.23 ± 3.077 µm and have a spherical factor of 0.026 ± 0.022, respectively, which are considered acceptable and indicative of a spherical shape. The microbeads' encapsulation efficiency was found to be 69.65 ± 0.18%, which is considered high in comparison to other literature. The attenuated total reflectance - Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) data confirmed the complexation of sodium alginate with calcium ions, along with the encapsulation of 5-FU in the microbeads matrix. The 5-FU microbeads displayed pH-dependent swelling, exhibiting less swelling in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) than in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF). Additionally, the release of 5-FU from the microbeads is pH-dependent, with the cumulative percentage drug release being higher in simulated intestinal fluid than in SGF. The data indicate that the 5-FU microbeads can be utilized for the delivery of 5-FU in colon-targeted therapy, potentially leading to improved tumor treatment.