Exploring the role of 4D printing materials, techniques, and characteristics for personalized oncology Sumel Ashique, Ashish Garg, Anas Islam, Tahreen Taj, Krishnendu Adhikary, Shakira Ghazanfar, Naheed Mojgani, Sadique Hussain, Farzad Taghizadeh-Hesary Translational Oncology, 2026 Cancer is still a global concern. Cancer management is intricate in all fields, from diagnosing or defining prognosis to selecting appropriate treatment and managing its adverse effects. In recent years, three-dimensional printing (3DP) innovations have emerged as a ground-breaking technology, offering new possibilities for cancer management. 3DP has advanced further with the addition of a fourth dimension, time, resulting in the concept of four-dimensional printing (4DP), ultimately revolutionizing the approach to cancer management. The 4DP technique has gained attention for its potential applications in cancer therapeutics. It is the next generation of the 3DP technique, which facilitates the advanced fabrication of dynamic constructs. The dynamic nature of 4D materials introduces the element of time, allowing for the observation of temporal changes in cancer behavior and response to therapeutic interventions. The use of 4DP in cancer research holds great promise for advancing our understanding of the disease and improving the translation of preclinical findings to clinical applications. However, 4DP is still in the early stages; thus, research is needed to prove its feasibility in healthcare applications. This review will illustrate the mechanisms used to induce the dynamic constructs of 4DP in cancer management. The recent potential applications of 4DP in cancer therapeutics will be further detailed, and future perspectives and conclusions will finally be proposed.
Green Nanoparticles to Clean Water and Soil: Opportunities and Challenges Tahreen Taj, Shailender Mohan, Himanshu Sharma, Sumel Ashique, Neeraj Mishra, Arshad Farid Green Nanoparticles Valuable Tools for the Food Sector, 2026 This chapter explores the promising applications of green nanoparticles (NPs) in the sustainable remediation of soil and water. Derived from eco-friendly sources such as plant extracts and bacteria, green NPs offer a low-impact alternative to conventional pollution removal methods. Their unique physicochemical properties, including high surface area and reactivity, make them effective in targeting contaminants. Aligned with green chemistry principles, their production from renewable resources reduces environmental harm. Despite their potential, challenges remain, particularly regarding the scalability, cost-effectiveness, and safety of synthesis methods. Concerns about toxicity and the long-term environmental fate of green NPs also need to be addressed. This chapter presents a comprehensive overview of current advancements in green NP research for environmental cleanup, emphasizing the need for further studies to overcome existing limitations. With continued innovation and evaluation, green NPs could become a key component in sustainable soil and water management strategies.
Unveiling the Theranostic Potential of Aptamer Functionalized Materials for Viral Infections Tahreen Taj, Ayush Madan, Mohd Aftab Siddiqui, Anas Islam, Twinkle Pal, Arpan Sen, Radheshyam Pal, Suman Ghosh, Sanjay Dey Current Pharmaceutical Design, 2026 Introduction: Aptamers are short single-stranded nucleic acids or peptides that can bind to specific targets with high affinity and specificity, making them promising tools for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Their ability to detect and neutralize viral pathogens with precision has garnered significant attention, particularly in the development of innovative theranostic strategies. Methods: This review provides a comprehensive overview of aptamers, detailing their unique features and various types. It explores the theranostic potential of aptamers and functionalized aptamers in the diagnosis and treatment of viral pathogens. Additionally, a comparative analysis is presented, highlighting the advantages and limitations of aptamer-based detection methods in contrast to other conventional techniques for the identification of viral pathogens. Results: The results of this review highlight the significant potential of aptamers in the detection and therapy. Aptamers show high specificity, sensitivity, and versatility compared to conventional diagnostic methods. Functionalized aptamers further enhance their applicability by improving target recognition and therapeutic efficiency. Discussion: The comparative analysis indicates that aptamer-based approaches offer advantages such as rapid detection, cost-effectiveness, and adaptability for various viral targets. Conclusion: Overall, the findings support the growing interest in aptamers as promising tools for theranostic applications in virology. However, further research is needed on in vivo applications and clinical translation to establish their efficacy in real-world settings.
Nanoliposomes based drug delivery for the treatment of various types of cancers: current trends and future perspectives Binapani Barik, Tahreen Taj, Rabab Fatima, Sanjay Dey, Syed Mustafizur Rahaman, Radheshyam Pal, Sumel Ashique, Md Sadique Hussain, Sabina Yasmin, Mohammad Khalid, Md Yousuf Ansari Journal of Liposome Research, 2026 Multifunctional lipid-based nanoparticles, like nanoliposomes (NLPs), effectively deliver therapeutic and diagnostic functions, with recent modifications to liposomes reducing toxicity to human cells. These NLPs and micelles enhance therapeutic efficacy through surface modifications, creating pH-sensitive, targeted, long-circulating systems. Process selection depends on the nanoparticle components' physicochemical properties, which influence formulations. This article explores engineered NLPs for the treatment of various diseases like fungal infection, breast cancer, and metabolic disorders, compares their properties, breakthroughs in ligand-targeted, stimuli-responsive, scalable NLP production techniques and applications to conventional liposomes, and discusses the preparation process. It reviews generation differences in liposomal preparations, offering insights into current trends in nanoparticle drug delivery, highlighting their translational applicability beyond oncology. Liposomal formulations have shown promise in targeted delivery, yet only a few have proven successful. Several recent studies demonstrated that functionalized NLPs improved therapeutic efficacy through surface modifications, enabling tissue targeting and controlled drug release in various disorders, including cancer therapy. Other multifunctional lipid-based nanoparticles are developed for medicinal and diagnostic purposes. This review covers the design, manufacturing, and application of engineered nanoliposomes, addressing challenges like poor solubility and off-target effects while exploring future directions for clinical applications. The article presents an overview of the potential impact of engineered NLPs on the advancement of precision medicine in the context of metabolic diseases.
Phytomicronutrients in neurodegeneration: modulating microglial dynamics for neuroprotection Krishnendu Adhikary, Gari Prameela, Joy Das, Mohhammad Ramzan, Krishnendu Ganguly, Nilanjana Datta, Pradipta Banerjee, Saurav Barman, Sathvik Belagodu Sridhar, Tahreen Taj, Mohini Mondal, Sumel Ashique, Shivani Chopra, Hitesh Chopra Zeitschrift Fur Naturforschung Section C Journal of Biosciences, 2026 Microglial dysfunction plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of several neurodegenerative diseases, including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. Emerging evidence suggests that targeting microglial activation could be a promising therapeutic strategy. This review critically examines recent studies investigating the effects of medicinal plant extracts and their bioactive compounds on microglial function. Relevant data from experimental and preclinical studies were analyzed to assess their neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory potential. Phytochemicals that are found in plants, especially flavonoids, alkaloids, and terpenoids, demonstrate important modulatory effects on microglials. These compounds control microglial polarization, inhibit the release of proinflammatory cytokines, and alleviate oxidative stress, thus, alleviating neuroinflammation and enhancing neuro-restoration. The results suggest that medicine plant extracts have effects on major molecular pathways associated with neuroinflammation, which provide new adjunctive treatment to neurodegenerative diseases. Nevertheless, there are still problems in the translation of these preclinical successes into clinical practice. The limited bioavailability, variability in phytochemical composition, and the absence of standardized formulations are some of the challenges that discourage clinical use. Also, thorough safety assessments should be conducted to achieve therapeutic effectiveness with no adverse effects. The medicinal plants and their bioactive compounds hold potential promise in regulating the dysfunction of microglia and in decreasing neuroinflammation. Future studies are needed to enhance the pharmacokinetic characteristics, to provide consistency in formulations, and to perform stringent clinical studies that would substantiate these findings and allow their use in therapeutic regimens of neuroinflammatory disorders.
Amino acid metabolism in glioblastoma pathogenesis, immune evasion, and treatment resistance Shriyansh Srivastava, Robab Anbiaee, Mohammad Houshyari, Laxmi, Sathvik Belagodu Sridhar, Sumel Ashique, Sadique Hussain, Sachin Kumar, Tahreen Taj, Zeinab Akbarnejad, Farzad Taghizadeh-Hesary Cancer Cell International, 2025 Glioblastoma (GBM) ranks among the most lethal primary tumors of the central nervous system. This is partly due to its complex intracellular metabolism and interactions with the surrounding tumor microenvironment (TME). Compelling evidence represents that altered amino acids (AAs) metabolism plays a crucial role in both areas. The role of AAs and their metabolites in glioma biology is an emerging topic. Therefore, this review was conducted to summarize the current knowledge about the molecular mechanisms by which AAs participate in the GBM pathogenesis. AAs can directly influence tumor progression by affecting tumor cell metabolism or indirectly by releasing bioactive agents through particular metabolic pathways. This review begins by examining the metabolic pathways of essential AAs, such as tryptophan, tyrosine, and phenylalanine, which contribute to synthesizing critical neurotransmitters and shape tumor metabolism signatures. We explore how these pathways impact tumor growth and immune modulation, focusing on how AAs and their metabolites can promote malignant properties in GBM cells. AAs also play a pivotal role in reprogramming the TME, contributing to immune evasion and resistance to therapy. The review further discusses how tumor metabolism signatures, influenced by AA metabolism, can enhance the immunosuppressive microenvironment, providing new avenues for targeted immunotherapies. Finally, we outline potential therapeutic strategies to modulate AA metabolism and emphasize critical opportunities for future research to improve GBM management.
Role of the Immune System in Gastrointestinal Inflammation Tahreen Taj, Mithun Bhowmick, Pratibha Bhowmick, Sumel Ashique, Neeraj Mishra, Farzad Taghizadeh-Hesary Gastrointestinal Inflammations and Gut Microbiota Pathophysiology Management and Emerging Therapies, 2025
Gut Microbiota: Role in Health and Disease Msoumeh Bagheri, Azadeh Zahmatkesh, Abrar Hussain, Tahreen Taj, Sumel Ashique, Naheed Mojgani Cancer Drug Discovery and Development, 2025
Advances in Radiotherapy of Brain Tumors Sanjesh Kumar, Mansi Singh, M. V. N. L. Chaitanya, Devesh Kapoor, Mohini Mondal, Biplab Debnath, Sumel Ashique, Tahreen Taj From Radiobiology to Radiation Oncology, 2025
Postbiotics and Metabolic Signaling in Colorectal Cancer Rizwan Ahamad, Ubaidulla Uthumansha, Saistha Anjum, Zuber Khan, Sandhyarani Sagavkar, Sandipan Dash, Tahreen Taj, Sanjesh Kumar, Mirazuddin Mollick, Sumel Ashique Cancer Drug Discovery and Development, 2025
Advances in Radiotherapy of Gastrointestinal Cancers Tahreen Taj, Fathima Beegum, M. P. Mohammed Ameen, Biplab Debnath, Sumel Ashique, Debajit Dewan, Raneet Das, Chowdhury Mobaswar Hossain, Shaghayegh Rezvani Nezhad, Neeraj Mishra From Radiobiology to Radiation Oncology, 2025
Insights into the Uses of Traditional Plants for Diabetes Nephropathy: A Review Haleema Shahin D. H., Rokeya Sultana, Juveriya Farooq, Tahreen Taj, Umaima Farheen Khaiser, Nader Sulaiman Ayyt Alanazi, Mohammed Kanan Alshammari, Mohammad Nazal Alshammari, Firas Hamdan Alsubaie, Syed Mohammed Basheeruddin Asdaq, Abdulmueen A. Alotaibi, Abdulrhman ahmed Alamir, Mohd. Imran, Shahamah Jomah Current Issues in Molecular Biology, 2022
