University of Havana

According to statistical data from the World Health Organization, in 2040, there will be an estimated 28.4 million new cancer cases. Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most significantly deadly neoplasms: one out of every thirteen deaths worldwide. This situation happens due to two main factors: the clinical manifestations of the disease and the low efficacy of current detection techniques. The biosensors have gained attention as promising tools for early diagnosis, considering their easy integration into point-of-care technology. These devices enable the development of minimally invasive, highly sensitive, cost-effective, and user-friendly tests suitable for accurately screening large population groups. This review will explore applying nanomaterial-based electrochemical biosensor technology for screening, early detection, and prognostic assessment of stomach cancer. It comprehensively explains biosensor development engineering factors such as shelf life, scalability, reproducibility, and assay time. It compares Electroanalytical Techniques and biorecognition probes for successful biosensor manufacturing, instilling confidence in the review's findings. The role of GC biomarkers and their diagnostic value and biological functions will be covered, highlighting emerging blood biomarkers. It emphasises electrochemical detection in clinical samples and the role of nanomaterials in these outcomes. Finally, translating nanobiosensors into mHealth applications by integration with Internet of Medical Things frameworks is critically reviewed, filling a critical knowledge gap. Therefore, the proposal aims to guide researchers in this interdisciplinary field of Biosensor PoC technologies development for the critical selection of biosensor components from a manufacturing and materials engineering point of view that guarantees a suitable integration and translation to the healthcare system.

The initiation, progression, and metastasis of tumors are accompanied by metabolic reprogramming. Within the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), the impact of metabolic alterations in tumor cells is often overlooked, leading to therapeutic failure. In reality, tumor cells and immune cells within TIME compete for nutrients, inducing hypoxia, acidosis, and other conditions that collectively foster an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Therapeutic strategies targeting metabolic reprogramming hold great promise for cancer treatment. This account systematically reviews the interplay between tumor metabolic reprogramming and the TIME, focusing on the mechanisms by which metabolic reprogramming mediates immune suppression. It highlights the strategies of nanoscale delivery systems to regulate immune cells through metabolite delivery, including diverse carrier platforms (e.g., liposomes and polymers), active targeting optimization (e.g., ligand-receptor interactions), stimuli-responsive release (e.g., pH/reactive oxygen species (ROS)-triggered systems), and multimodal synergistic therapies (e.g., phototherapy combined with metabolic inhibitors), all aimed at reshaping the metabolic balance between tumor and immune cells. Additionally, the discussion encompasses metabolic reprogramming-driven immune suppression, design strategies for nanoscale systems to reverse immunosuppression via metabolic interventions, and clinical translation. Finally, the application prospects of metabolism-targeted nanodrug delivery systems in tumor therapy are envisioned.

Plastic wastes are an issue of global concern due to their continuous increase and their negative impact in the environment, but recycling rates are still low. The search of new uses for recycled plastics could increase these rates extending the product life cycle. Several works have shown the capacity of plastics to adsorb contaminants from the surrounding environment. This capacity could be an advantage to use plastics as innovative and low-cost adsorbents materials in solid phase extraction systems to reduce the contaminant load in effluents. Then, the aim of this work was to evaluate the use of recycled plastics as low-cost adsorbents to reduce the metals load in effluents. The adsorption capacity of three different recycled plastics, high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE) and polypropylene (PP), for Pb²⁺ in water was evaluated. After material characterization, the effect of several parameters on the adsorption efficiency was tested, as sample pH, sorbent dosage, contact time, initial Pb²⁺ concentration and co-existing metals ions and organic matter. In addition, a continuous flow system was also proved, as well as the possibility of reuse the adsorbent several times. The results suggest that recycled plastics, as obtained from the recycling plant, can be a good low-cost alternative to reduce the lead concentrations in effluents before they were discharged to the environment, allowing a reduction up to 70 % of lead even when a continuous flow solid phase extraction system is used. Besides, developing countries could take advantage of a widely available and low-cost waste for the treatment of their waste waters.