Revista de Ciências Biomédicas e Farmacêuticas

Epigenetic modifications play a critical role in the development and progression of cancer by regulating gene expression patterns, chromatin structure, and cellular phenotypes. Targeting epigenetic abnormalities has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment, offering opportunities to reverse aberrant gene silencing, restore tumor suppressor function, and inhibit oncogenic signaling pathways. In this review, we discuss the challenges and opportunities of targeting epigenetic modifications in cancer therapy. We explore the mechanisms of epigenetic dysregulation in cancer, the therapeutic agents targeting epigenetic enzymes and readers, the clinical applications of epigenetic therapies, and the challenges associated with drug resistance, toxicity, and patient selection. Despite challenges, epigenetic therapies hold promise for improving cancer treatment outcomes and overcoming therapeutic resistance through personalized and precision medicine approaches.

Multi-drug resistant bacteria pose a significant threat to global public health, rendering many conventional antibiotics ineffective and exacerbating the burden of infectious diseases. The development of novel antibiotic agents capable of overcoming resistance mechanisms is crucial for addressing this challenge. This review explores recent advances in the discovery and development of novel antibiotics to combat multi-drug resistant bacteria. From innovative screening approaches and target identification strategies to the optimization of drug candidates and the exploration of alternative antimicrobial modalities, researchers are employing diverse methodologies to identify new therapeutic options. Despite the complexities and challenges associated with antibiotic development, ongoing efforts hold promise for replenishing the antibiotic pipeline and safeguarding against the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance.

Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising approach for improving cancer therapy by enhancing drug delivery precision, reducing systemic toxicity and overcoming drug resistance. In this review, we explore the applications of nanotechnology in targeted drug delivery for cancer therapy. Nanoparticles, liposomes, micelles and other nanostructures offer unique properties, such as tunable size, surface functionalization and sustained release kinetics, which enable targeted delivery of anticancer agents to tumor sites while minimizing off-target effects. By encapsulating drugs within nanocarriers and incorporating targeting ligands, stimuli-responsive materials and imaging agents, nanotechnology facilitates site-specific drug delivery, controlled release and real-time monitoring of therapeutic responses. Despite challenges in clinical translation and scale-up, nanotechnology holds promise for revolutionizing cancer therapy and improving patient outcomes through personalized and precision medicine approaches.

Drug repurposing, also known as drug repositioning, offers a promising strategy for identifying new therapeutic uses for existing drugs. In the context of rare diseases, where traditional drug discovery approaches face significant challenges, bioinformatics plays a critical role in facilitating the repurposing of drugs to address unmet medical needs. This review examines bioinformatics approaches for drug repurposing in rare diseases, highlighting the methodologies, data sources, and computational tools used to identify potential candidates. By leveraging omics data, network analysis, machine learning, and computational modeling, bioinformatics enables the systematic exploration of drug-disease associations and the prioritization of repurposing candidates based on biological relevance and therapeutic potential. Despite the complexity and heterogeneity of rare diseases, bioinformatics-driven drug repurposing holds promise for accelerating the discovery and development of treatments for these underserved patient populations.